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BIOGRAPHICAL,  GENEALOGICAL 


AND 


DESCRIPTIVE  HISTORY 


OF     THE 


FIRST  CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT 


OF 


NEW    JERSEY 


ILLUSTRATED 


vol^ljivie:   ii 


THE    LEWIS    PUBLISHING   COMPANY 
NEW   YORK   AND   CHICAGO 

1900 


-,.>^^^fjU^C^^^'. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY 

OF   THE 

First  Coflgressioiial  District  of  New  Jersey. 


,     HENRY  CLAY  LOUDENSLAGER. 

Tlie  attainment  of  pre-eminent  success  by  a  man,  eitlier  in  business  or  in 
a  profession,  must  in  a  measure  be  the  result  of  personal  merit,  together 
with  the  ability  to  apply  in  a  practical  way  those  cjualifications  necessary  to 
important  achievements.  As  an  exemplification  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  a  man  who  is  possessed  of  a  laudable  ambition  to  achieve  a  high 
degree  of  success,  we  present  herewith  a  brief  resume  of  the  career  of  Hon. 
li.  C.  Loudenslager,  of  Gloucester  county. 

He  was  born  in  Mauricetown.  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  on  May 
22,  1852,  his  parents  being  S.  Paul  and  Sara  A.  (Haley)  Loudenslager.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Loudenslager.  Jacob  was 
a  farmer  in  his  early  life,  but  later  devoted  many  years  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  his  field  of  religious  work  covering  a  large 
part  of  southern  New  Jersey.  After  retiring  from  active  service  in  church 
work,  he  made  his  home  at  Paulsboro. 

His  maternal  grandparents  were  David  and  Rachael  Haley,  the  former 
being  a  sea  captain,  but  later  on  became  a  farmer  near  Mauricetown,  Cum- 
berland county. 

In  T856  Mr.  Loudenslager's  parents  moved  from  Cumberland  county  to 
Paulsboro,  the  father  being  \-ariouslv  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  farmer,  mer- 
chant, school-teacher,  and  later  was  the  county  clerk  of  Gloucester  county. 
L'pon  the  remo\'al  of  the  famih-  to  Paulsboro.  Harry  was  only  four  years  of 
age.  The  period  of  his  bo\hood  and  early  manhood  was  spent  upon  the 
farm,  where  he  labored  in  the  fields  during  the  season  of  farm  work  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools  in  the  winter.  Early  in  the  '70s  he  was  engaged 
as  a  clerk  in  the  produce  commission  business  in  Philadelphia,  and  during 
the  summer  months  of  each  year  from  1872  to  1882  he  conducted  on  his  own 
account  the  business  of  produce  commission  merchant. 

On  the  7th  of  Decemlier.  1872,  in  Pliiladelphia,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Kate  L.  Salisbury,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  Salis- 

1 


2  BIOCRAI'lllC.ll.   HISTORY  OF   TIIF.   FIRST 

bury,  and  tlu-  (.■liildrtn  li(ini  to  tlK'in  are  I-llizahetli  S.  T.dudenslager,  now 
Mrs.  A.  Slicldon  Clark,  and  Harry  Howard  Londcnslaiicr. 

Socially  Mr.  i.ondenslagcr  is  connected  with  the  varions  societies,  and 
in  Masonry  has  attained  the  thirty-second  desjrcc  in  the  Scottish  rite. 

In  1872  his  fatlier  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Gloucester  count)-,  and 
continued  by  re-election  to  fill  that  position  for  ten  years,  and  during  a  ])or- 
tion  of  each  year  of  that  i)eriod  Harry  served  in  the  capacity  of  deputy  clerk, 
and  in  1882  was  himself  elected,  as  a  Republican,  to  succeed  his  father  as 
county  clerk.  L'nder  his  adininisti-ation.  the  duties  of  that  office  were  jier- 
fornied  with  such  a  degree  of  ability  ;ind  coin-lcsy  as  to  call  forth  the  jiraise 
of  judges,  lawyers,  l)usiness  men  and  other  patrons  of  the  office  irrespectiye 
of  their  political  affiliations,  the  result  being  that  the  competent  and  popular 
official  was  heartily  inrlorsed  for  re-election  and  recci\ed  a  largely  increased 
majority  o\cr  tli.nt  of  liis  fu^st  election.  Mr.  T,oudenslager  has  ever  been  an 
enthusiastic  and  loyal  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  strong  in  his 
advocacy  and  dissemination  of  its  principles,  believing  that  they  embody  the 
best  elements  of  good  government.  Tn  1892  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the 
first  congressional  district  of  New  Jersey  in  the  national  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, and  was  re-elected  in  1894,  1896,  1898,  and  1900.  He  is  the 
first  member  of  congress  from  his  district  to  serve  in  the  house  of  repre- 
sentati\es  lor  more  than  two  terms,  and  is  the  onh'  man  of  this  state  upon 
wlujin  iias  been  conferred  the  honor  of  being  nominated  for  five  consecutive 
terms  of  congress,  and  the  only  representative  in  congress  from  the  first  dis- 
trict of  New  Jerse_\-  w  ho  has  been  apjiointed  chairman  of  a  committee  of  the 
iiouse  of  rejaresentatises.  During  his  first  term  of  congress  (the  fifty-third) 
his  party  was  in  the  minority  in  the  house,  but  since  that  term  the  Repuljlican 
party  has  maintained  a  majority  in  the  lower  house.  By  indomitable  indus- 
try and  a  concentration  of  energy  and  attention  to  the  prompt  and  efficient 
performance  of  official  and  political  duties,  he  has  steadily  advanced  on  the 
road  to  jjromincnce  until  he  has  reached  a  high  position  in  the  councils  of 
h.is  ])arty.  Since  he  entered  congress  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  national 
Republican  congressional  committee,  and  also  a  member  of  its  executive 
connnittee,  and  has  been  assigned  to  some  of  the  most  important  duties  in 
that  ca])acity.  F.arly  in  his  congressional  career  he  displayed,  in  the  prep- 
aration and  consideration  of  legislative  matters,  a  clear  discernment  and 
a  keen  judgment  which  attracted  tlie  attention  of  the  leaders  of  the  Repub- 
lican jiarty  in  the  house,  and  which  has  led  to  his  assignment  to  very  im- 
portant positions  on  committees.  As  chairman  of  one  of  the  most  important 
committees  of  the  house,  he  has  rendered  valuable  ser\'ice;  but  it  is  as  a 
meml)er  of  the  connnittee  on  naval  affairs,  during  the  period  previous  to  and 
tluring  the  war  with  Sp.'iin,  that  his  most  conspicuous  work  has  been  ])er- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  3 

formed  in  framing  legislation  for  strengthening  and  equipping  our  fleets 
for  the  conflict  which  covered  our  navy  with  glory.  During  the  months  im- 
mediately preceding  the  war,  the  committee  on  naval  afl^airs  were  in  almost 
constant  session  considering  ways  and  means  of  placing  upon  a  war  footing 
our  navy,  which  was  totally  unprepared  for  hostile  engagement.  Our  war 
vessels  were  without  many  necessary  features  of  equipment,  and  the  stock 
of  ammunition  was  not  sufficient  for  even  one  round  of  shot  from  our  fleets. 
In  this  emergency  the  responsibility  fell  upon  the  congressional  committees 
to  furnish  means  of  promptly  supplying  the  navy  with  what  was  essential 
to  go  forth  in  the  defense  of  our  nation's  honor,  and  in  this  work  I\Ir. 
Loudenslager's  shrewd  ability,  accurate  foresight  and  correct  judgment  were 
called  upon  to  aii^l  in  directing  the  action  of  congress  in  the  exigency,  and 
die  record  of  the  committee  on  naval  afifairs  will  be  an  important  part  of  the 
history  of  that  war  wherein  victory  came  to  us  in  every  engagement,  and  the 
United  States  navy  eclipsed  all  examples  of  history  in  its  marvelous  achieve- 
ments. 

In  this  brief  biography  is  shown  what  may  be  accomplished  by  a  young 
man  possessing  ambition,  determination  and  industry,  if  these  laudable  char- 
acteristics are,  as  in  the  subject  of  these  lines,  combined  with  those  admirable 
elements  of  personal  disposition, — loyal  friendship  and  a  frank,  straightfor- 
ward method  of  dealing  with  his  fellow  men.  He  has  never  been  known  to 
desert  an  old  friend  for  a  new  one  and  thus  his  circle  of  warm  friends  and 
admirers  is  constant]}-  growing  and  the  honor  and  respect  which  is  accorded 
him  on  all  sides  is  constantlv  ausrmented. 


JOHN  WILKINS. 


John  W'ilkins,  of  Grenloch,  Camden  county,  was  born  February  20, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  Wilkins,  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same 
locality.  The  grandfather  was  John  Wilkins,  and  the  family  in  immigration 
settled  in  Camden  county,  where  the  representatives  of  the  name  have  since 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  Hiram  Wilkins  was  a  freeholder  in 
Camden  and  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Blackwood.  He 
owned  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  country  and  successfully  cultivated  his 
land  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880.  He  married  Caroline  Murden, 
a  daughter  of  Randall  Murden,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1870.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  four  children,  as  follows:  John;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Bateman,  of  Williamstown.  New  Jersey,  Emily,  the  wife  of  Burris  Turner, 
of  Wenonah;  and  Thomas  J.,  of  Colorado. 

John  Wilkins  came  to  the  place  of  his  present  residence  when  twenty- 


4  BIOC.RAPIIICAL   HISTORY  OJ-    Tllll  FIRST 

one  years  of  aj^e  and  took  charge  of  the  farm  wliich  lie  managed  for  six 
years.  He  was  tlie  owner  of  two  hnnchcd  and  twenty-five  acres  of  ricli  land, 
hut  has  since  disposed  of  a  portion  of  it  and  now  rents  the  remainder.  He 
has  been  actively  identified  with  the  afi'airs  of  the  township,  having  served 
as  a  collector  for  three  years,  while  for  a  number  of  terms  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  town  committee.  He  married  Annie,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Turner,  and  to  them  were  born  two  children,  but  only  one  is  now  living, 
Louella. 

HISTORICAL    AND    MISCELLANEOUS    SKETCHES. 

THE    SOCIETY    OF    FRIENDS. 

The  inauguration  of  not  only  political  but  also  religious  freedom  in 
America  m;ide  the  land  a  Mecca  for  people  of  every  state  of  religious  con- 
nections. The  Quakers,  among  others,  were  early  established  here,  under 
the  protection  and  security  of  religious  tolerance.  The  pioneers  of  the 
Friends'  Society  in  Salem  county  were  John  Fenwick,  Robert  Zane,  Samuel 
Nicholson,  Edward  Wade,  Samuel  Hedge,  John  Thompson,  John  Smith  and 
Richard  Guv. 

John  Fenwick,  the  leailer  of  these  original  "associators"  in  Salem  county, 
arrived  from  England  in  December.  1675,  and  soon  after  the  settlement  of 
his  family  and  of  the  families  of  those  who  came  with  him  of  the  Friends'  or 
Quaker  denomination,  he  organized  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  town  of 
Salem  twice  in  each  week  for  divine  worship.  For  the  first  five  years  re- 
ligious meetings  were  held  in  private  houses.  In  1680  they  purchased  a 
house  residence  of  Samuel  Nicholson  in  which  these  meetings  were  held. 
In  1700  they  erected  a  brick  meeting-house  on  the  lot  which  they  subse- 
quently used  for  a  burying-ground,  erected  at  a  cost  of  £415,  135s  2id. 
Five  years  later,  more  ample  accommodations  being  required,  they  purchased 
a  lot  on  the  present  East  Broadway  and  Walnut  streets,  upon  which  thev 
erected  their  present  commodious  and  extensive  brick  structure. 

Another  center  of  worship  in  the  county  was  in  Lower  Alloway's  Creek 
township,  where  a  meeting-house  was  built  in  1684,  the  leading  Friends  asso- 
ciated being  Richard  Hancock.  John  Dunn.  Jeremiah  Powell  and  Nathaniel 
Chammeys.  In  1726  David  Davis,  with  otiiers  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
organized  a  meeting  at  ^\'oodstown,  and  in  1780  a  meeting  was  organized 
by  Samuel  Pedrick  and  John  Summers  at  Upper  Penn's  Neck. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  Society  of  Friends,  after  they  had  organ- 
ized their  meetings,  turned  their  attention  to  the  education  of  the  children 
and  youth  of  the  early  settlers  and  were  really  the  pioneers  of  the  primitive 
schools  of  the  colonies,  which,  after  the  first  imjiress  of  sectarianism  exclu- 


jCibrarj/  MuUdiny,  Salem. 


COXGRESSJON.il   district   of   NEir   JERSEY.  5 

siveness  had  worn  off.  were  opened  to  the  g'eneral  ihffusion  of  knowledge 
to  all  religious  classes. 

THE    S.ALEM    LIBR.JlRY. 

The  Salem  librar>'  was  founded  in  1804,  its  constitution  was  drafted  and 
adopted  on  the  24th  of  March  of  that  year,  and  at  the  first  regular  meeting 
in  June  the  following  officers  were  elected:  William  Parret,  president; 
Thomas  Jones.  Jr..  secretary:  and  Abner  Beesley.  treasurer.  On  the  7th  of 
April  a  committee  was  appointed  to  request  permission  for  the  freeholders 
to  use  the  small  east  room  upstairs  for  a  court-house  for  a  limited  term.  At 
the  first  annual  meeting  eighty-seven  names  appeared  on  the  roll  as  mem- 
bers, "having  either  paid  their  subscriptions  in  cash  or  delivered  books." 
As  directed  by  the  constitution,  each  member  ])aifl  four  dollars  into  the 
treasury,  but  on  the  ist  of  July.  1809.  the  rate  was  increased  to  five  dollars. 

At  times  the  library  was  in  splendid  condition,  at  other  times  interest 
therein  abated  and  it  seemed  probable  that  it  could  not  enjoy  an  extended 
existence.  "The  Library  Company  of  Salem.  New  Jersey."  was  incorporated 
under  the  general  act  of  1799.  on  the  ist  of  July.  1809.  It  was  conducted 
in  the  usual  manner  of  such  institutions,  its  purpose  being  to  furnish  ma- 
terial to  the  reading  public.  By  the  year  181 5  there  had  been  a  marked 
decline  in  interest,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  rules  had  been  adopted  allow- 
ing a  redemption  of  the  forfeited  shares. 

The  free-school  system  established  in  Salem  county  in  i8i6and  the  growth 
of  private  educational  institutions  from  an  earlier  date,  found  a  helpful  ad- 
junct in  the  Salem  Library,  which  was  organized  in  1802.  Among  those  who 
first  saw  the  reciprocal  influence  between  a  public  library  and  the  school 
system  in  the  dissemination  of  general  information  were  John  Wistar,  Jen^is 
Hall,  Samuel  Stuart,  Clement  Hull,  Morris  Hall  and  Edmund  Burroughs. 
Altogether  the  career  of  the  library  has  been  one  of  growth  and  progress, 
the  special  efforts  at  different  times  contributing  to  its  growth  and  influence. 
The  plan  of  its  organization  has  kept  the  fund  of  its  board  raised  by  the  sell- 
ing of  shares  and  an  annual  tax  of  two  dollars  intact  for  the  purchase  of 
books.  The  duties  of  the  library — registration  and  general  supervision — • 
are  performed  gratuitously,  the  library  being  kept  open  for  the  use  of  student 
patrons  on  certain  days  of  each  week  by  gentlemen  and  ladies  who  volunteer 
their  services.  Many  have  devoted  much  time  and  attention,  thought  and 
effort  to  carry  on  this  most  necessary  and  beneficial  institution,  but  prob- 
ably no  greater  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  to  any  one  connected  with  it  than 
to  John  Tyler,  who  in   1830  became  a  member  of  the  organization.     The 


6  BIOCRAl'HICAL   HISTORY   OF   Till-    J-'IKST 

following;-  year  lie  was  elected  a  direclor  and  in  1834  was  chosen  its  president, 
lie  never  ceased  liis  labors  toward  promoting  its  welfare,  and  to  him  is  dup 
the  fact  that  it  now  has  a  beantiful  home,  pleasantly  situated  in  one  of  the 
most  attractive  c|uarters  of  Salem.  S])eaking  of  this,  the  National  Standard. 
of  Salem,  ])ul)lishcd  in  July.  1885.  said: 

".Vfter  eighty-one  years  of  vicissitudes  and  at  times  slender  fortunes,  the 
Salem  Library  has  at  last  found  a  permanent  home,  and  with  a  rare  oppor- 
tunit\-  of  a  liberal  endowment  it  enters  upon  a  prosperous  future  and  a 
broader  field  of  usefulness  than  it  has  ever  occupied  before.  This  most  de- 
sirable consummation  has  l)ecn  attained  through  the  wise  provision  and 
careful  forethought  of  one  who  was  deeply  interested  in  its  success  and  the 
objects  of  its  mission,  and  probably  more  familiar  with  its  early  struggles 
and  solicitous  for  its  welfare  than  any  other.  And  what  a  father  planned, 
though  leaving  no  specific  charges  or  definite  instruction  beyond  a  simple 
unsigned  memorandum,  the  filial  affection  and  munificence  of  the  son  has 
executed,  with  careful  detail,  and  today  there  stands  in  our  midst  the  John 
Tyler  Library  Building,  an  enduring  monument  to  the  man  whose  name  it 
bears,  and  no  less  to  the  liberality  and  public  spirit  of  its  generous  donor, 
W.  Graham  Tyler." 

The  handsome  structure  stands  on  West  Broadway.  The  building,  at- 
tractive in  its  oddness  of  architecture  as  compared  with  other  structures  of 
the  city,  is  of  Queen  Anne  style  and  is  built  in  the  shape  of  an  L.  It  is  of 
one  story  and  the  ceiling  is  sixteen  feet.  The  lower  part  of  the  building  is  of 
Chester  grey-stone,  finished  with  red  brick  and  roofed  with  slate.  It  has  a 
frontage  of  twenty-eight  feet  and  is  seventy-one  feet  in  depth,  the  offset  at 
the  rear  adding  fifteen  feet  additional  to  its  width.  There  is  a  large  hand- 
some library  room  with  accommodations  for  twenty-five  thousand  volumes. 
It  is  finished  in  light  or  oiled  wood  with  a  beautiful  paneled  ceiling.  In  the 
rear  of  this  room  is  another  apartment  equally  large,  used  as  a  public  read- 
ing-room. The  building  sets  somewhat  back  from  the  street  and  overlooks 
the  Friends'  cemetery. 

The  ground  for  this  building  was  given  by  W.  Graham  Tyler  in  accord- 
ance with  the  wishes  of  his  father  expressed  in  an  unsigned  memorandum 
which  was  found  among  his  papers.  In  speaking  of  his  work  on  the  occasion 
of  the  dedication  of  the  new  building.  Graham  Tyler  said  in  referring  to  his 
father,  "Dearer  to  him  than  I  ever  knew  was  the  prosperity  of  this  institu- 
tion." In  the  memorandum  appeared  the  words.  "When  opened  to  the  pub- 
lic it  is  my  wish  that  minors  and  young  men  shall  be  made  active  participants 
in  the  treasures  of  knowledge  and  of  free  access  there  for  their  special  bene- 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  7 

fit  and  behoof."  The  grounds  were  given  and  the  Hbrary  Ijuilt  after  the 
manner  suggested  Ijy  John  Tyler  and  through  the  benevolence  and  pubHc 
spirit  of  his  son.  It  is  called  the  John  Tyler  Library  Building  and  the  library 
now  contains  ten  thousand  volumes  of  well  selected  and  useful  books,  taken 
from  all  departments  of  literature.  The  influence  of  this  institution  cannot 
be  measured,  but  all  recognize  that  it  is  a  great  benefit  to  the  town,  and  the 
public  feels  that  it  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  it  now,  to  those  who  in  former 
years  carried  on  the  work  and  to  those  who  are  now  interested  in  its  per- 
petuation, its  purposes  and  its  accomplishments. 

THE    ELMER    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  Elmer  Methodist  Episcopal  church  had  its  beginning  in  1868,  when 
the  residents  of  Pittstown — for  so  the  place  was  called  at  that  time — assisted 
bv  members  of  the  Friendship  Methodist  church  and  the  Olivet  Meth- 
odist church,  resolved  to  erect  a  house  of  worship  for  the  people  of  the  de- 
nomination in  what  is  now  known  as  the  town  of  Elmer.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  in  June  of  that  year,  and  cut  on  its  side  were  the  words,  "Pittstown 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  1868."  The  following  year,  when  the  church 
was  completed,  the  name  of  the  town  had  been  changed  to  Elmer,  and  there- 
fore the  shield  on  the  front  bore  the  inscription  "Elmer  M.  E.  Church.  1868." 
Three  thousand  and  eight  hundred  dollars  were  first  subscribed  for  the  build- 
ing, and  with  that  amount  the  work  was  begun  and  carried  forward  by  effi- 
cient committees.  At  length  a  frame  house  of  worship,  forty  by  sixty  feet, 
was  completed  and  the  Methodists  of  Elmer  were  soon  installed  in  their  new 
home.  The  basement  of  the  church  was  dedicated  February  10,  1869,  and 
at  the  dedicatory  services,  conducted  by  Bishop  Scott,  five  hundred  dollars 
more  were  raised.  On  the  21st  of  March,  1870,  it  was  decided  to  dedicate  the 
completed  building  and  Dr.  Bartine  was  secured. to  preach.  Several  hun- 
dred dollars  were  then  raised,  leaving  an  indebtedness  upon  the  church  of 
fifteen  hundred  dollars,  which  was  paid  off  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M. 
C.  Stokes.  The  work  of  the  church  prospered  and  as  the  population  of  the 
town  grew  and  the  congregation  proportionately  increased  in  numbers,  it 
was  seen  that  accommodations  were  not  adequate  for  those  who  wished  to 
attend  services  with  the  Methodists.  Accordingly  the  matter  of  erecting  a 
new  house  of  worship  was  discussed  and  resulted  in  the  building  of  a  fine 
church,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  October  14,  1893.  The  church 
now  has  a  membership  of  more  than  four  hundred,  and  is  doing  a  good  work, 
its  influence  being  widelv  felt. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


THE    FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK    OF    WOODSTOWN. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Woodstown.  Xcw  Jersey,  was  organized 
thirty-five  years  ago,  by  Edward  B.  Humphreys,  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  Salem  county,  then  as  at  the  present  time, 
with  Samuel  H.  Weatherby  and  others.  The  original  board  of  directors,  of 
which  only  two  members,  Mr.  Humphreys  and  Mr.  Dickinson  survive,  com- 
prised the  following:  William  J.  Shinn,  Edward  B.  Humphreys,  John  H. 
Lippincott,  Elijah  B.  Hosmer,  John  W.  Dickinson,  Samuel  Borton,  Samuel 
H.  Weatherby,  Samuel  Black  and  James  Benezet.  William  J.  Shinn  was 
elected  the  first  president,  and  C.  Carroll  Lippincott  the  first  cashier  of  the 
bank,  which  gained  the  confidence  of  the  public  and  rapidly  won  favor 
among  the  business  men  of  this  vicinity,  and  it  was  soon  upon  a  paying  basis. 
Since  its  founding  there  have  been  four  successors  of  Mr.  Shinn  as  presi- 
dent, namely:  Edward  R.  Bullock.  Samuel  H.  Weatherby,  James  Bene7et 
and  Isaac  K.  Lippincott. 

Soon  after  this  enterprise  was  started.  Mr.  Humphreys  withdrew  from 
the  board  of  directors,  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  majority  were  in  favor 
of  locating  the  bank  outside  the  business  center  of  the  town.  For  many 
years  it  was  situated  in  a  brick  building  now  used  by  the  Piles  Grove  Library 
Association.  In  1891  the  business  foresight  of  Mr.  Humphreys  was  acknowl- 
edged, and  a  handsome  red-stone  building,  of  modern  architecture  and  de- 
sign, was  erected  in  the  business  center  of  Woodstown.  The  cost  of  the  new 
structure,  including  the  office  furniture  and  fi.xtures,  amounted  to  about 
twenty-seven  thousand  dollars. 

When  the  First  National  Bank  of  Woodstown  was  incorporated,  in  1864, 
its  cash  capital  was  fifty  thousand  dollars,  but  this  amount  was  soon  increased 
to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  At  the  time  that  Mr.  Flitcraft  became 
cashier  of  the  bank  the  surplus  was  six  thousand,  five  hundred  and  thirtv- 
six  dollars,  and  the  undivided  profits,  nineteen  thousand,  nine  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  dollars,  while  today  the  cash  capital  is  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars,  the  surplus  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  and  the  undivided  profits 

■ and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.     The  last  figures  do 

not  accurately  cover  the  undivided  profits,  as  no  premium  accounts  are 
carried  by  the  liank. 

The  present  directors  of  the  bank  are:  Isaac  K.  Lippincott,  William  Al, 
Weatherby,  Charles  E.  Allen.  E.  Smith  Bassett.  Abram  Cochran,  Ebenezer 
Sparks,  Rudoljih  Benezet,  N.  H.  Bomart  and  William  Z.  Flitcraft.  The 
present  (ifiiccrs  are:    Isaac  K.  Lippincott,  president;  \\'illiam  Z.  Flitcraft, 


CONGRESSION.-iL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  9 

cashier;  and  Isaiah  C.  Shinn,  teller.  In  1871  the  last  mentioned  gentleman 
was  elected  cashier  of  the  bank,  and  to  his  wisdom,  during  the  long  years 
intervening,  much  of  its  success  may  justly  be  attributed.  Mr.  Lippincott, 
the  president,  and  the  other  officials,  have  taken  an  active  part  in  promoting 
the  standing  of  this  popular  institution  of  finance,  and,  with  possibly  two  or 
three  exceptions,  it  stands  at  the  head  of  New  Jersey  state  banks.  It  has  kept 
abreast  of  the  times,  adapting  its  policy  to  changing  conditions  and  modern 
methods  of  transacting  business,  and  during  every  one  of  the  great  panics, 
which  have  crippled  many  of  the  leading  banks  of  the  country,  it  has  bravely 
ridden  through  the  storm,  supplying  loans  to  its  patrons  to  anv  extent 
required. 

BRIDGETON. 

The  old  colonial  characteristics  of  the  people  of  Bridgeton  are  still  vis- 
ible, among  the  most  prominent  of  which  are  a  well  ordered  life  and  a  happy 
home;  and  in  the  moral  feature  of  their  life,  of  course  the  religious  cult  de- 
rived from  English  Christianity  has  been  very  marked.  In  their  character 
Christianity  and  morality  have  been  inseparably  interwoven,  and  the  tem- 
perance and  industry  which  they  have  so  scrupulously  practiced  have  ever 
resulted  in  material  prosperitv. 

Also  they  have  so  completely  occupied  their  ground  that  but  few  immi- 
grants have  succeeded  in  establishing  themselves  among  them. 

The  residences  are  not  palatial,  but  comfortable,  in  keeping  with  the 
religious  or  Quakerdike  character  of  the  inhabitants.  They  have  not  "made 
haste  to  be  rich,"  ever  keeping  themselves  within  the  due  bounds  of  hon- 
esty, modesty  and  an  unpretending  and  quiet  mode  of  life.  The  thrift,  tidi- 
ness, comfort  and  pride  in  pleasant  surroundings,  as  well  as  the  pretty  resi- 
dences, are  conspicuous  along  Commerce  street,  east  and  west.  North  Pearl 
street.  East  avenue,  Atlantic  avenue.  Bank  street.  Broad  street  and  other 
avenues.  Connected  with  nearly  every  residence  is  a  well  kept  yard,  while  all 
outbuildings  and  other  a]>pnrtenances  are  snug  and  tidy.  Shade-trees  and 
fancy  shrubbery  adorn  the  premises,  as  well  as  neat  fences.  The  streets 
exhibiting  poverty  are  few.  There  are  no  licensed  drinking  houses  or  other 
degrading  establishments,  while  the  agencies  for  both  temporal  and  intel- 
lectual advancement  are  numerous  and  strong. 

As  samples  of  ornate  and  commodious  residences  we  may  mention  those 
of  Mrs.  R.  C.  Nichols,  Dr.  M.  K.  Elmer,  Robert  J.  Buck,  Obelin  Smith, 
Mrs.  B.  T.  Bright,  Edward  E.  Grosscup,  Francis  B.  Minch,  ex-Assemblyman 
Bloomfield  H.  Minch,  Frank  M.  Riley,  Walter  H.  Bacon,  Dr.  J.  G.  Streets. 
Robert  and  Richard  Moore,  P.  H.  Goldsmith,  Chester  J.  Buck,  William  A. 


lO  BIOCRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   FIRST 

Logue,  George  H.  Whipple,  William  and  Samuel  Allen.  P.  Kennedy  Reeves. 
J.  Boyd  Nixon.  William  C.  Garrison  and  Miss  Sarah  Buck. 

WF.ST   JERSEY    ACADEMY. 

The  highest  grouiul  within  the  limits  of  Bridgeton  is  ornamented,  upon 
its  summit,  with  an  institution  of  learning  having  the  above  name  and  title. 
The  building  and  grounds  occupy  a  whole  square.  This  structure  was  one 
of  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  as  at  the  time  of  its  erection  there  was  no 
academy  of  a  high  order,  either  classical  or  scientific,  anywhere  in  the  six 
southern  counties. 

The  establishment  of  this  institution  was  due  to  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Beach 
Jones,  who  for  twenty-four  years  was  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  here.  When  he  first  proposed  this  enterprise  to  the  presbytery  of 
West  Jersey,  in  April,  1850.  no  gifts  were  in  prospect,  and  the  first  sub- 
scriptions were  small,  the  largest  being  one  thousand  dollars,  heading  the 
list,  opposite  the  name  of  Dr.  W'illiam  Elmer;  and  the  institution  has  ever 
since  been  maintained  without  endowments  or  even  legacies.  It  has  there- 
fore been  somewhat  dependent  upon  the  liberality  of  friends,  the  tuition  fees 
not  being  sufficient  to  sustain  it  as  it  should  have  been.  In  keeping  with 
the  spirit  of  the  times,  the  peculiar  religious  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian 
denomination  are  not  pressed  upon  the  pupils,  even  in  the  most  indirect 
manner. 

Recurring  to  the  structure,  we  may  state  that  the  corner-stone  was  laid 
for  it  on  the  9th  day  of  August,  1852.  and  many  churches  responded  to  the 
request  to  furnish  a  room.  The  building  is  constructed  of  brown  stone  and 
lately  a  wing  has  been  added,  besides  a  commodious  gymnasium  on  the  lot 
adjoining  on  the  west  side  of  the  grounds.  From  the  cupola  the  bay  may  be 
seen  and  a  fine  view  of  the  surounding  country  enjoyed.  The  lot  for  the 
original  structure  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $1,625.50,  and  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  board  of  trustees  had  been  secured  several  months  previously. 

The  principals  of  this  academy  have  been  Messrs.  Smythe,  Stevenson. 
Thompson.  Gosman,  Whitly,  Diefendorf,  Vaughan,  Sherman,  Allen  and 
finally  the  present  incumbent,  Pheobus  W'.  Lyon,  who  ranks  high  for  gen- 
eral intelligence  and  administrative  skill. 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  old  Presbyterian  church  at  the  west  end  of  Broad 
street  in  Bridgeton  was  laid  July  26.  1792.  and  the  building  opened  for  wor- 


Old  I'rtibytuian  Church,  Bridgeton.  West  Jersey  Academy,  Bridgeton. 

Court  House  and  Sheriff's  Residence  and  Jail,  Bridgeton. 
The  Tumbling   Dam,  Millville.  First  Baptist  Church,  Millville. 


COXGRESSIOX.AL    DISTRICT   OF   XEir   JERSEY.  n 

ship  May  17.  1795.  by  Presl)yterians  from  Philadelphia.  This  house  of 
Avorship  was  tiie  first  church  erected  in  Bridgeton,  and  the  congregation 
worshipping  therein  was  the  first  religious  body  organized  here.  For  three 
years  previously  the  congregation  had  been  holding  religious  services  in 
the  court-house,  which  stood  in  the  middle  of  Broad  street,  below  Franklin 
street. 

In  chronological  order  the  first  se\eral  pastors  of  this  church  were  Dr. 
William  Clarkson,  1794-1801;  Jonathan  Freeman,  1805-1822;  Brogan  Hoff, 
1824-1833:  and  John  Kennedy,  1834-1838.  During  this  latter  period,  1834- 
1838,  the  brick  Presbyterian  church  on  North  Laurel  street  was  built;  but 
the  old  historic  church  was  still  used  for  an  occasional  funeral  or  for  mis- 
cellaneous occasions  in  which  the  whole  town  participated  as  late  as  1846. 
The  structure  is  still  standing,  more  as  a  relic  of  the  c|uaintness  of  the  early 
period  than  for  anything  else,  and  it  is  a  venerable  relic,  too.  The  sight  of 
it  ever  brings  up  a  long  line  of  memories  and  sentimental  reminiscences 
which  one  finds  difiicult  to  drop  from  his  meditations.  Although  so  old, 
it  still  retains  the  freshness  of  its  pristine  existence,  while  the  surroundings 
are  kept  in  appropriate  repair,  giving  the  air  of  ease,  rest  and  retirement.  In- 
ternally we  behold  the  odd  style  of  construction,  the  brick-paved  aisles,  the_ 
box-like  pulpit  at  the  head  of  a  winding  stairway,  the  high-backed  pews,  the 
windows  of  small  panes,  the  seven-plate  wood-stoves  made  of  South  Jersey 
bog  iron,  and  the  peculiar  designs  on  the  plastered  wall. 

The  adjoining  grave-yard,  characteristic  of  its  day,  seems  to  share  all  the 
more  reverence,  on  account  of  its  features,  than  if  finished  in  some  neutral 
style.     How  restful  all. 

The  hundreth  anniversary  of  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  this  ven- 
erable church  was  celebrated  on  July  26,  1892.  The  whole  day  was  devoted 
to  this  occasion,  when  numerous  addresses  were  delivered  and  historical 
papers  read,  interspersed  with  skillfully  rendered  music  from  an  orchestra. 
A  "museum  of  anticjuities"  was  improvised,  which  was  rich  with  suggestions. 

OLD    RESIDENCE. 

There  is  a  singular  fascination  attaching  to  the  ancient  landmarks  that 
still  survive  and  point  to  a  part  that  otherwise  is  without  tangible  remin- 
iscence. Notably  are  several  ancient  residences  built  early  in  the  last  cen- 
tury, which  still  retain  the  flavor  of  antiquity,  and  the  interest  of  historical 
suggestion.  The  anticiuarian  is  fond  of  pointing  out  the  dwelling-house  oc- 
cupied recently,  for  so  long  a  period,  of  Joseph  Frankling,  Esq.,  now  de- 
ceased, and  afterward  of  his  son,  Samuel  Frankling.     It  is  perhaps  the  most 


12  HlOGRArillC.lL   HISTORY    01'    TUR   flRST 

ancient  of  all  tlic  (|uaiiU  antc-Revolutidiiary  (Iwfllings  thai  now  remain  in 
Woodbury.  The  duelling,  formerly  the  residence  of  Samuel  Mickle.  later 
of  John  M.  Saunders,  was  built  in  1762.  In  the  year  following,  1763,  was 
erected  the  dwelling  long  occupied  by  Michael  C.  and  Mary  R.  Fisher,  and 
later  of  John  Paul  Fisher.  Passing  the  century  mark  of  antiquity  of  nearly 
two-score  years,  were  the  John  H.  Jessup  ilwelling,  built  in  1763,  and  the 
John  C.  Small  building,  built  in  1766. 

Nothing  retains  the  Havor  of  antiquity  comparable  to  the  residence,  the 
dwelling-house,  erected  a  century  or  centuries  ago.  If  kept  intact  from 
modern  repairs  it  may  appear  quaint  and  crude  enough,  but  it  reflects  with 
unfailing  certainty  the  spirit  and  even  the  customs  and  manners  of  ages  gone 
by.     Its  historical  character  is  unimpeachable. 

GLOUCESTER    COUNTY    COURT-HOUSE,    AND    WOODBURY. 

Gloucester  count}-  was  laid  ofT  in  1677.  and  the  first  ccjurt-house  and  jail 
were  built  at  Gloucester  in  J694.  (Benjamin  F.  Carter's  "Woodbury  and 
Vicinity,"  1873.)  It  was  built  of  logs  and  the  first  structure  was  sixteen 
feet  long,  twelve  feet  wide  and  eight  feet  high.  At  the  next  session  of  the 
court  it  was  ordered  that  the  dimensions  be  altered  to  twenty  by  sixteen  feet 
and  that  there  be  also  a  "court-house  over  the  same,  of  a  convenient  height 
and  largeness,  covered  of  and  with  cedar  shingles,  etc."  In  1708  extensive 
additions  were  made  with  stone  and  brick  substituted  for  logs,  and  three 
years  previously  a  whip]3ing-post,  stocks  and  hand-cuffs  had  been  ordered 
as  a  punishment  for  criminals.  In  1786  the  court-house  and  jail  were  burned 
and  in  the  year  following,  in  1787,  the  present  court-house  in  Woodbury  was 
built.  The  land  was  donated  in  1786  by  John  Bis])ham  and  accepted  for 
the  county  by  Joseph  Reeves,  James  Wilkins  and  John  Wilkins,  who  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  take  the  deed.  The  committee  to  build  the  court- 
house were  John  Jessup,  Samuel  Hugg  and  James  Brown.  The  surrogate's 
ofiice  was  built  in  1799,  and  the  clerk's  ofifice  in  1820. 

The  soldiers'  monument  situated  in  the  court-house  s(|uare,  commem- 
orates the  patriotism  and  bravery  of  the  loyal  sons  of  the  county  who  fell  in 
the  civil  war.  It  was  erected  by  the  county  and  dedicated  May  30.  1867. 
The  committee  who  had  the  monument  in  charge  were  R.  K.  Matlock.  S.  J. 
Bayard  and  B.  1"".  Carter,  appointed  by  the  citizens:  and  Daniel  J.  Packer, 
Isaac  C.  Dilks  and  Isaac  H.  Lippincott,  appointed  by  the  board  of  free- 
holders. Michael  Reiley  executed  the  work,  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  and 
fifty  dollars.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  thirteen  names  inscribed  on  the  monu- 
ment, the  oldest  was  that  of  Andrew  J.  Peck,  sixty-two  years:  the  youngest 


Court  House  and  Monument,  Woodbury.  Methodist  Episcopal  Churcll,  Woodbury. 

Whitney  Glass  Works,  Glassboro:   established  1775. 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  Swedesboro;  built  174.1.  Headquarters  of  Lord  Cornvvallis  during  the  winter  of  1777. 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEir   JERSEY.  13 

that  of  William  W'addell  Ladd.  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  names  of  ofificers 
commemorated  are:  Brigadier-Generals  Joshua  B.  Howell,  George  D.  Bav- 
ard  and  Charles  G.  Harker;  Captain  Edward  Carlyle  Norris:  and  Lieuten- 
ants James  S.  Stratton.  Joseph  H.  Johnson,  Mark  H.  Roberts  and  Joseph 
Pierson. 

THE  GLOUCESTER  COUNTY  ALMSHOUSE. 

The  Gloucester  county  almshouse,  located  in  Greenwich  township,  near 
Clarksboro.  occupies  the  middle  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventv-nine 
acres.  A  stream  of  water.  Edward's  creek,  in  which  the  tide  regularly  ebbs 
and  riows,  passes  through  its  environments.  The  main  edifice  is  a  three- 
story  brick  structure  with  extensive  wings,  and  is  of  modern  style.  Rooms 
open  on  either  side,  w-ith  spacious  halls  traversing  the  entire  length  of  the 
house,  and  each  is  supplied  w'ith  pure  water  from  a  large  reservoir  forcing 
the  supply  abundantly  to  the  third  story.  The  water  supply  is  a  spring  from 
a  solid  rock  formation.  .\  two-story  stone  asylum  near  the  house  provides 
for  the  management  of  inmates  in  need  of  more  especial  care. 

The  title  to  the  land  of  the  almshouse  can  be  traced  back  through  King 
Charles  II  to  James,  Duke  of  York,  A.  D.  1663;  the  succession  of  the  titles  is 
interesting:  James  conveyed  to  John,  Lord  Berkley,  and  Sir  George  Cart- 
eret, all  New  Jersey.  Lord  Berkley,  who  took  the  western  division,  con- 
veyed in  1675  to  John  Fenwick,  in  trust  for  Edward  Byllinges.  Byllinges 
conveyed  a  part  lying  on  Edward's  creek  to  John  Clark;  John  Clark,  Jr.,  his 
heir,  in  London,  conxeyed  the  same  to  Benjamin  Alford,  of  New-England 
in  America.  His  heir.  John  Alford,  in  1720  conveyed  five  hundred  acres  to 
Robert  Gerard.  His  executors  in  1750  conveyed  to  Tliomas  Gerard,  who 
the  same  year  conveyed  to  John  Wood,  who  in  1756  conveyed  to  William 
Gerard,  who  the  same  year  conveyed  to  Daniel  Lippincott.  It  then  trav- 
ersed back  and  forth  in  the  Lippincott  family  until  in  1841  or  after,  when 
Elizabeth  Lippincott  conveyed  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  and  one  hun- 
dreth  acres  to  the  county  of  Gloucester. 

The  Lippincott  family  grave-yard  is  reserved  on  the  premises,  adjoining 
which  the  almshouse  burying  ground  is  laid  out.  the  native  pines  and  cedars 
thereon  being  preserved. 

THE   WHITNEY   GLASS  WORKS. 

The  history  of  the  \\'hitney  Glass  Works  dates  back  to  the  year  1775. 
when  a  family  by  the  name  of  Stanger,  who  had  come  over  from  Germanv 
in   1770  and  settled  at  Alloway's  Creek,  Salem  county,  removed  to  what 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORV    OF    THE   FIRST 

is  now  (."ilasslioro  and  tliere  Iniilt  a  small  furnace  on  a  tract  of  land  inirchased 
from  one  Archihald  Mut^'ctt.  The  Stanger  Brothers  operated  their  factory 
until  1780,  when,  owing-  to  the  depreciation  of  the  continental  currency,  they 
failed  and  were  cast  into  the  dehtor's  ])rison  at  Gloucester  City,  then  the 
county  seat  of  Gloucester  county. 

At  the  sheriff's  sale  which  followed  the  failure  of  the  Stangers  the  prop- 
erty was  hought  in  by  Colonel  Thomas  Hestoni  of  Hestonville  (now  a  part 
of  Philadelphia),  who  had  become  a  frequent  visitor  at  Glassboro  owing  to 
the  meets  of  the  famous  Gloucester  Fox  Hunting  Club,  of  which  he  was  an 
active  member,  being  held  in  the  vicinity,  and  Edward  Carpenter.  Indeed 
it  was  Colonel  Heston  who  suggested  that  the  settlement  then  known  as 
Heston's  Glass  Works  be  called  Glassboro,  as  a  tribute  to  its  principal  indus- 
try; and  it  was  through  him  that  the  Whitneys  obtained  their  interest  in 
the  business,  which  has  continued  without  interruption  to  the  present  day. 
It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  Colonel  Heston  obtained  the  release  of  the 
Stanger  Brothers  from  prison  and  that  aftenvard  they  were  employed  in  the 
very  factory  they  themselves  had  established. 

Under  the  management  of  Messrs.  Heston  and  Carpenter  the  works  were 
gradually  enlarged  and  improved,  and  the  manufacture  of  window  glass  was 
introduced.  At  this  time,  owing  to  the  lack  of  railroad  facilities,  all  the  glass 
was  hauled  bv  teams  to  what  is  now  known  as  Mantua,  at  that  time  called 
Carpenter's  Landing,  and  from  there  forwarded  to  Philadelphia  in  small 
sloops  and  tiat-boats.  Colonel  Heston  died  in  1802,  and  shortly  afterward 
his  widow  disjiosed  of  the  interest  in  the  glass-works  which  had  fallen  to  her 
to  young  Mr.  Carpenter,  whose  father  had  been  connected  in  the  business 
with  Colonel  Heston. 

In  1806  Eben  Whitney.  Esq.,  of  Castine.  Maine,  while  on  a  voyage  from 
the  island  of  Madeira  to  Philadelphia,  was  wrecked  ofif  Cape  May,  Xew  Jer- 
sey. He  was  many  months  engagetl  in  saving  cargo  and  repairing  his  vessel, 
antl  din-ing  the  frequent  journeys  which  were  obliged  to  be  made  between 
Cape  May  and  Philadelphia  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Heston,  the 
daughter  of  Colonel  Heston.  whom  he  married  on  August  2/.  1807.  After 
his  marriage  Eben  Whitney  settled  at  Glassboro  and  there  his  sons  Thomas 
H.  and  Samuel  A.  were  born,  and  these  two  brothers  were  identified  with  the 
business  their  grandfather  hatl  heljied  to  establish,  for  a  i)eriod  of  nearly 
fifty  years. 

In  181 3  a  new  factory  was  erected  in  Glassboro,  upon  a  site  south  of  the 
original  plant,  which  was  first  known  as  the  Harmony  Glass  Works:  and 
about  the  year  1824  the  original  plant  built  by  Stanger  Brothers  was  aban- 
doned and  the  business  united  with  that  of  the  Harmony  Glass  Works.    In 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF  NElf  JERSEY.  15 

1835  Thomas  H.  Whitney  purchased  a  one-third  interest  in  the  Inisiness  and 
two  years  later  acquired  the  entire  works  and  continued  the  sole  owner  of 
them  until  1840,  when  his  brother,  Samuel  A.  Wdiitney,  bought  a  half  interest 
in  them.  In  1842  the  name  of  the  plant  was  changed  from  the  Harmony 
Glass  Works  to  the  Whitney  Glass  Company,  and  the  same  year  the  Stanger 
Glass  Works  at  South  Glassboro  or  Temperanceville  were  added  to  the  Whit- 
ney interests,  and  they  were  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  \\'hitney 
Brothers  until  1887. 

In  1882,  Thomas  H.  Whitney  having  died  and  Samuel  A.  Whitnev  hav- 
ing retired  from  the  active  management  of  the  company,  John  P.  Whitney, 
a  son  of  Thomas  H.  Whitney,  and  Thomas  W.  Synnott,  a  nephew,  continued 
to  carry  on  the  business  as  Whitney  Brothers  until  1887,  when  the  business 
had  grown  to  such  proportions  that  it  was  deemed  wise  to  incorporate,  which 
was  done  under  the  name  of  \\'hitney  Glass  Works,  J.  P.  Whitney,  T.  \V. 
Synnott  and  Eben  W'hitney  being  the  first  incorporators. 

Since  the  incorporation  in  1887  the  business  has  gradually  grown  until 
now  employment  is  furnished  to  over  eight  hundred  operatives,  and  it  is  esti- 
mated that  over  sixty  million  bottles  are  produced  annually.  Besides  the 
five  furnaces  at  Glassboro  the  company  operates  a  plant  at  Salem,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  owns  a  plant  at  Blairsville,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  window-light  plant  at 
South  Glassboro  or  Temperanceville. 

The  main  ofiices  of  the  company  are  at  22j  South  Front  street,  Phila- 
delphia, and  it  maintains  offices  also  in  New  York  and  Chicago.  The  present 
ofificers  of  the  company  are  J.  P.  Whitney,  president;  R.  D.  MacLeod,  vice- 
president;  and  C.  J.  Yost,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

George  Dudley  Whitney. 

woodbury  academy. 

The  old  Woodbury  Academy  is  an  educational  structure  that  for  some 
years  has  passed  the  century  mark.  It  was  established  in  1791,  the  struc- 
ture itself  being  erected  the^  same  year  with  funds  raised  by  lottery. — a 
method,  however,  singular  to  the  reader  of  to-day,  that  was  current  at  the 
time — a  notable  similar  instance  being  the  endowment  of  Columbia  Col- 
lege of  New  York  city  in  1746-51,  by  lottery  funds  authorized  by  the  state 
legislature.  The  site  of  Woodbury  Academy  was  the  gift  of  Joseph  Bloom- 
field  (afterwards  from  1803  to  1812  governor  of  the  state)  in  trust  to  the 
following  gentlemen:  Rev.  Andrew  Hunter,  Dr.  Thomas  Hendry.  John 
Sparks,  Benjamin  Whitall,  Franklin  Davenport,  John  Blackwood  and  Joshua 
Howell,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  erecting  an  Academy  thereupon.     In  1820 


i6  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

;i  second  story  was  added  to  the  hitherto  one-story  structure  and  for  fourteen 
years  following  it  was  also  used  as  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Presbyterians. 
The  Rev.  Andrew  Hunter  was  its  first  teacher,  and  during  its  subsequent 
conspicuous  history  many  prominent  individuals  received  their  education 
within  its  walls,  including  Dr.  James  Rusli.  of  Philadelphia,  Cominodore 
Benjamin  Cooper,  and  Captain  James  Lawrence,  of  "Don't  give  up  the  ship" 
fame.  The  building  subsequently  was  used  for  public-school  purposes.  The 
old  academy,  still  jiresened  and  having  on  its  exterior  a  Latin  cross,  is 
reputed  to  have  been  brought  from  San  Domingo  during  the  insurrection 
of  1789,  where  it  had  formerly  ]:)een  used  in  a  convent. 

THE    FOUNDERS    OF    OCE.-\N    CITY. 

Tliis  beautiful  place  had  its  origin  in  the  enterprising  efforts  of  four  men, 
namely:  Hon.  Simon  Lake  and  his  three  sons.  Revs.  E.  B.,  S.  Wesley  and 
James  E.  These  sons  were  natives  of  the  southern  portion  of  New  Jersey, 
their  plavground  was  on  the  beach  and  all  their  early  associations  were  con- 
nected with  that  locality.  Hence  their  work  in  after  years,  when  men,  were 
of  a  patriotic  order,  as  they  evinced  a  noble  disposition  in  building  up  the 
interests  of  their  native  land.  Thus  they  became  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  interests  of  this  commonwealth.  .\11  three  of  the  sons  became  efficient 
workers  in  the  itinerant  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as 
members  of  the  New  Jersey  conference. 

In  the  course  of  time  the  attention  of  the  sons  was  directed  toward  the 
establishment  of  a  seaside  resort  where  the  sale  of  intoxicant  liquors  should 
not  be  allowed  and  the  sacredness  of  the  Sabbath  be  respected.  Rev.  E.  B. 
Lake  led  in  this  enterprise,  visiting  a  number  of  places  along  the  coast,  but 
at  last  found  that  in  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood  existed  a  point  as  eligible  as 
anv.  He  was  selected  by  his  brothers  and  his  father  to  superintend  the  enter- 
prise, and  in  order  to  accomplish  the  work  he  resigned  temporarily  from  the 
ministry.  Having  a  hardy  constitution  from  his  early  training,  he  was  ade- 
quate to  the  task,  and  in  this  he  was  aided  by  his  father. 

OCE.-\N    CITY    .ASSOCI.^TION. 

The  above  is  the  title  of  a  stock  company  formed  about  twenty  years  ago 
for  the  improvement  of  Ocean  City,  headed  by  Dr.  W.  B.  Wood,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  was  the  first  president  of  the  association.  Immediately  upon 
organization  the  company  began  issuing  stock  and  securing  the  land.  The 
first  topographical  survey  was  made  by  W.  Lake,  February  13,  1880,  and  the 
part  known  as  section  A  was  staked  oft'  into  avenues,  streets  and  lots.    \\'ork 


^ar/c  anc/  ^xssoc/af/on  Sround,   Ocean  Oi'tj/,  7/eiv  Jersey. 


Cold  Spring  Presbyterian  Church.  View  of  Ocean  Cit>-. 

Arbury  Avenue,  Ocean  City,  showing  the  Central  Trust  Company  Building. 
Jail,  Sheriff's  Residence,  Countj-  Offices  and  Court-house  at  Cape  May  Court  House.       View  of  the  Beach,  Ocean  City. 


COXGRESSIOXJL    DISTRICT    OF   XEW  JERSEY.  ij 

was  l)egun  in  earnest  and  pnsheci, — clearing,  ditching  and  placing  brnsh  at 
the  north  of  the  island  for  the  gathering  of  sand  and  thus  extending  the 
ocean  front. 

The  first  public  sale  of  lots  took  place  in  May  following,  the  lots  selling 
for  fifty  thousand  dollars  each,  and  lots  to  the  value  of  eighty-five  thousand 
dollars  were  soon  disposed  of.  The  first  deed  was  made  to  S.  T.  Champion, 
and  another  lot  of  land,  called  section  B.  was  surveyed.  A  wharf  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  feet  long  and  seventy-two  feet  wide  was  built,  at  a  great 
cost,  connected  with  the  city  by  a  good  road  over  the  meadows.  Board 
walks  run  parallel  with  this  wharf  the  entire  distance. 

The  first  building  erected  here  was  the  little  pioneer  cottage  on  the  rear 
of  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  offices  of  the  proprietary  company.  It  was 
first  used  as  a  boarding-house  for  the  mechanics  then  at  work  on  the  island, 
and  was  sometimes  occupied  by  as  many  as  forty  men.  But  the  first  build- 
ing of  considerable  size  was  the  Bellevue,  erected,  by  L  B.  Smith,  at  the 
corner  of  Seventh  street  and  Asbury  avenue,  at  which  point  the  first  funeral 
services  ever  held  on  the  island  were  conducted,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death 
of  Harry  McCann.  a  boy  who  was  killed  by  falling  from  a  cart  while  hauling 
sand. 

The  first  hotel,  the  Ocean  House,  now  Hotel  Brighton,  was  also  built  by 
I.  B.  Smith.  A  railroad  was  built  from  Pleasantville  to  Soniers  Point  and 
formally  opened  to  business  October  26,  1880.  .A  steamboat  was  purchased 
to  ply  between  Somers  Point  and  Ocean  City,  thus  completing  connection 
with  the  general  system  of  thoroughfares  of  the  country.  By  the  spring  of 
1881  a  turnpike  from  Xeasley's  Point  to  Ocean  City,  and  a  bridge  over 
Thoroughfare  Sound,  were  completed,  by  a  company  organized  for  the 
purpose. 

Rev.  E.  B.  Lake  has  been  the  superintendent  for  the  company  from  the 
first  organization  to  the  present  time.  He  is  endowed  by  nature  for  such  a 
position, — as  the  saying  is.  "he  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place."  He  is 
associated  with  every  movement  of  progress  in  the  city,  being  the  prime 
mover  of  many  of  them.  He  has  thoroughly  investigated  all  the  features, 
good  and  bad,  of  every  point  upon  the  Xew  Jersey  coast,  and  knows  how 
to  adopt  the  good  and  reject  the  bad. 

The  present  officers  and  managers  are:  President.  Rev.  S.  W.  Lake: 
vice-president.  Rev.  J.  B.  Grew:  secretary  and  superintendent.  Rev.  E.  B. 
Lake;  treasurer.  Dr.  G.  E.  Palen:  directors,  G.  L.  Horn.  G.  B.  Langley.  H. 
B.  Howell.  Rev.  J.  E.  Lake  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Wood. 


i8  BIOGRAI'HICAL    HISTORV    Ol-    THE   FIRST 

COTTAGE    HOUSES,    OCEAN    CITY. 

No  more  alluring  theme  can  he  suggested  to  the  tired  worker,  weary  w  ith 
the  heat  and  hurry  of  city  life,  than  the  "cottage  hy  the  sea."  It  is  the  idea 
of  home,  peace,  comfort,  coziness  in  the  midst  of  the  royal  environment  of 
rest,  all  combined  in  a  single  phrase.  The  poet  and  the  romancer  have  ever 
made  much  of  the  theme.  The  cottage  homes  of  Ocean  City  constitute  one 
of  the  striking  features  of  the  town.  Breathing  forth  as  they  do  in  every 
delicate  detail  and  elegant  ornamentation  the  artistic  spirit  of  the  owner,  they 
become  every  season  the  temporary  homes  of  multitudes  of  summer  so- 
journers who,  although  without  a  direct  voice  in  local  government,  divide 
their  home  life  with  Ocean  City.  The  streets  and  avenues  lined  with  these 
cottages,  w'ith  well  kept  lawns,  luxuriant  shade-trees,  constitute  one  of  the 
delightful  features  of  the  coast  town  that  harmonize  delightfully  with  the 
tranquil  feeling  engendered  by  old  Ocean  at  rest.  A  still  more  alluring 
sentiment — a  discord  which  is  yet  a  harmony — springs  from  the  contrast 
between  the  tranquil  and  rest-giving  cottage,  and  old  Ocean  lashed  into  fury. 
Nothing  in  story  or  song  has  ever  adequately  portrayed  the  delights  of  these 
ideal  homes  of  the  shore. 

The  first  cottage  erected,  the  "pioneer  cottage,"  stood  at  the  rear  of  the 
present  Association  ofifice.  The  entire  cottage  feature  has  sprung  into  ex- 
istence since  1880.  In  the  place  of  sand-hills  and  thickets,  to-day  wide 
streets  cross  everywhere  at  right-angles.  Spacious  residences  and  picturesque 
cottages  succeed  each  other,  making  in  the  height  of  the  season,  though 
crowded  with  sojourners,  a  perfect  rest  picture. 

At  the  corner  of  Fifth  street  and  West  avenue  is  the  home  of  Rev.  E.  B. 
Lake,  one  of  the  finest  residences  of  the  city.  Other  attractive  residences 
are:  The  cottage  of  J.  S.  Rush,  north  corner  of  Eleventh  street  and  Central 
avenue;  the  cottages  of  Rev.  B.  H.  Sanderlin,  H.  G.  Schultz,  Dr.  F.  R. 
Graham,  and  Dr.  Palin,  on  Ocean  Front,  besides  his  main  dwelHng.  Still 
others  are  those  of  R.  C.  Robinson,  of  Jordan  Matthews,  712  Wesley  avenue; 
of  C.  Meyers;  of  Henry  Reinhart,  Eleventh  street  and  Central  avenue;  the 
Burleigh  cottages.  Central  avenue  below  Eleventh  street,  and  the  residence 
of  S.  B.  Sampson. 

OCEAN    CITY    BEACH. 

This  magnificent  beach,  at  present  variously  appropriated  l)y  ditTcrent 
summer  resorts,  comprises  a  delightful  stretch  of  the  New  Jersey  coast,  some 
seven  miles  in  length,  of  hard  smooth  ocean  strand  two  hundred  feet  wide 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEIV  JERSEY.  19 

along  the  ocean  margin  of  an  island.  It  was  formerly  known  as  Peck's 
Beach  and  is  located  sixty  miles  southwest  of  Philadelphia,  ten  miles  south 
of  Atlantic  City,  and  thirty  miles  north  of  Cape  May.  The  healing  breath 
of  the  climate  and  the  health-giving  waters  of  the  surf  allure  vast  throngs  of 
patrons  to  its  delights  from  the  earliest  opening  to  the  close  of  the  season. 
It  lies  on  the  thirty-ninth  degree  of  north  latitude.  "Near  this  parallel," 
observes  a  writer,  "are  the  Azores  islands,  noted  for  their  equable  climate; 
the  Balearic  islands  of  the  Mediterranean  sea;  southern  Italy,  with  vineyards 
and  orange  groves  bearing  fruit  in  the  winter:  the  Ionian  isles;  Arabia,  the 
land  of  dates,  pearlin  and  tamarind:  the  central  belt  of  the  Flowery  King- 
dom; and  the  Yosemite  valley  of  California.  Surf  loathing  here  can  be  in- 
dulged in  with  the  most  grateful  results  from  the  last  of  May  or  first  of  June 
till  late  in  October.  Owing  to  the  wide-shelving  strand  and  the  absence  of 
quicksands  or  dangerous  ground,  this  luxury  is  permissible  at  either  high  or 
low  tide,  while  the  exhaustion  caused  by  heavy  breakers  is  never  experienced. 
For  surf-water  bathing  the  bay  affords  every  facility.  In  the  heated  season 
no  more  picturesque  scene  can  be  found  than  on  the  beach  and  in  the  surf 
at  Ocean  City.  It  is  alike  the  Mecca  of  the  nervous  invalid  and  the  sporting 
arena  of  robust  avoirdupois."  "Down  to  its  shores,"  says  another  writer, 
"flock  invalids,  worn  and  weary  with  the  burden  of  the  body;  school  children 
white  and  worn,  and  business  men  with  nerves  unstrung  and  shattered.  Na- 
ture lays  her  hand  upon  her  children  and  restores  the  waning  strength  to  the 
weary  body,  paints  the  white  face  with  the  ruddy  hue  of  health,  leaves  the 
tension  and  soothes  into  an  indescribable  peace  and  rests  the  overtaxed 
nerves." 

CAPE    MAY    BEACH. 

This  beautiful  resort,  which  increasingly  attracts  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands each  season  to  its  delights,  is  one  of  the  most  level  of  beaches  along 
the  entire  Atlantic  coast,  and  the  finest.  As  it  is  one  of  the  oldest,  so  it  is 
one  of  the  most  charming  of  seaside  resorts.  By  common  consent  it  has 
been  called  "The  finest  beach  in  the  world,"  wide,  hard  and  smooth,  free 
from  anything  save  the  finest  sand  tightly  packed.  It  slopes  so  gradually 
into  the  sea  that  the  thought  of  danger  is  never  present  and  the  rolling 
surges  are  enjoyed  with  the  keenest  zest. 

The  beach  and  its  vicinage  was  a  conspicuous  health  resort  long  before 
speculation  founded  the  multitudes  of  resorts  that  now  crowd  the  coast,  and 
its  history  is  rendered  fascinating  by  the  customs  and  traditions  of  a  hun- 
dred years.  Sea  bathing  here  is  enjoyed  likewise  under  the  stimulus  of  a 
bracing  atmosphere  that  gives  life  and  vigor  to  every  inhalation  and  of 


20  niOGRAFlllCAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   FIRST 

liri,<;lu.  l)lue  skies,  and  a  keener  zest  is  excited  l)y  the  crisp,  clear  water  of  tlie 
Atlantic  rolling  ceaselessly  over  the  level  beach.  The  change,  rest  and  pleas- 
nre  thus  afforded  attract  not  only  the  best  people  of  the  land,  but  also  tour- 
ists from  all  parts  of  the  world  have  long  included  sea  bathing  at  Cape  May 
atnong  the  delightful  reminiscences  of  their  travel. 

THE    COLD    SPRING    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

In  the  tirganization  of  Christian  societies  in  Cape  May  county  the 
church  above  mentioned  is  the  oldest  but  one.  being  effected  at  Cold  Spring 
in  1714.  as  an  outgrowth  from  the  first  presbytery  of  the  country,  that  of 
Philadelphia,  which  had  been  organized  as  early  as  1705.  Tlieir  first  house 
of  worship  was  a  log  structure  erected  in  1718.  and  their  first  minister  was 
the  Rev.  John  Bradner.  who  was  licensed  by  Messrs.  Davis,  Hampton  and 
Henry,  in  1714.  This  minister  was  a  Scotchman  who  resided  upon  his  own 
estate  and  gave  his  name  to  the  little  stream  near  the  church.  He  served 
as  pastor  until  1721. 

For  a  long  period  this  church,  the  oldest  in  Lower  townshii).  was  the 
only  house  of  worship  for  a  large  extent  of  the  country.  In  1762  the  struc- 
ture was  changed  from  one  of  logs  to  one  of  frame,  and  a  long  time  after- 
ward, in  1823,  a  brick  building  took  its  place.  Like  all  other  works  of  art. 
and  even  like  modes  of  worship,  this  building  has  shown  change  from  time 
to  time.    A  writer  upon  the  colonial  period  says: 

"The  meeting-house  was  never  lighted  except  by  the  sun  until  singing- 
schools  made  it  necessary  to  introduce  candles.  Night  meetings  in  the  meet- 
ing-house were  considered  improper,  and  the  Presbyterians  would  have 
thought  candles  too  suggestive  of  the  superstitions  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
There  were  no  fire-places  or  stoves  or  other  means  of  warming  those  old 
meeting-houses  for  many  years  after  the  colony  was  planted.  '■'  *  * 
The  Lord's  day  began  at  sunset  on  Saturday.  The  early  ministers  regarded 
the  Sabbath  as  a  time  for  the  public  worship  of  God  and  for  religious  instruc- 
tion. The  people  came  together  at  nine  o'clock  for  the  morning  service, 
summoned  by  the  beat  of  a  drum,  the  town  crier  or  the  blowing  of  a  conch- 
shell  or  horn.  The  old  meeting-houses  were  crowtlecl.  for  the  people  were 
anxious  to  attend  the  services  on  the  Sabbath." 

The  old  log  meeting-house  of  the  Cold  Spring  Presljyterian  church  and 
the  later  frame  structure  both  belonged  to  the  period  of  psalm-singing,  the 
high  pulpit,  in  front  of  which  were  ranged  the  deacons  and  the  ruling  elders, 
and  the  days  of  hour-glass  sermons,  upon  special  occasions  the  hour-glass 
inverted  two  or  perhaps  three  times. 


COXGRESSfOX.^L   DISTRICT    Of   XEir   JERSEY. 


COUNTY    BUILDINGS    OF    CUMBERLAND    COUNTY.    NEW   JERSEY. 

The  location  of  the  county  seat  of  Cumberland  county  having  been  fixed, 
after  considerable  controversy,  at  Cohansey  Bridge,  the  first  steps  toward 
erecting  a  court-house  and  jail  were  taken  at  the  May  meeting  of  the  justices 
and  freeholders  of  Cumberland,  in  1750.  In  June,  1751,  one  hundred  pounds 
were  ordered  raised  by  the  25th  of  December  following  toward  building  the 
court-house,  the  structure  to  be  of  frame,  thirty-two  feet  long,  twenty-two  feet 
wide  and  two  stories  high,  and  to  begin  in  March,  1752.  The  managers 
were:  Elijah  Bowen,  David  Ogden,  John  Brick  and  Ephraim  Seeley.  The 
contractor  was  Howell  Powell,  who  partially  completed  the  court-house  in 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1752  and  to  whom  was  paid,  as  appears  by  the 
county  collector's  accounts,  the  round  sum  of  three  hundred  pounds,  which 
was  probably  the  amount  of  the  contract.  Additional  expenses  were:  In 
February.  1753,  "Ordered  that  the  sum  of  seventeen  shillings  and  sixpence 
be  paid  to  Ephraim  Luley  for  rum  and  sugar  at  Alexander  Moore's:"  and 
the  following  year  to  Ephraim  Seeley,  "for  raising  dinner  and  time  to  ]no- 
vide  it,  two  pounds  and  seventeen  shillings." 

Rates  of  taxes  for  raising  the  first  assessment  of  one  hundred  pounds 

were  fixed  as  follows:    "Young  men,  two  shillings:    men one  shilling; 

retailers  of  goods,  ten  shillings;  mill,  not  less  than  two  shillings  and  six- 
pence; above  five  sliillings,  and  male  slaves,  one  shilling."  This  original 
structure,  however,  remained  standing  but  a  brief  period  after  its  completion. 
At  some  date  between  December  6,  1758  and  January  4,  1759,  the  building 
caught  fire  in  the  night  from  the  flames  of  an  adjoining  house  and  was  burned 
to  the  ground. 

A  second  court-house,  of  brick,  thirty-four  by  twenty-four  feet  in  the 
clear,  eighteen-inch  walls  for  the  first  story  and  fourteen-inch  for  the  second, 
was  decided  upon  at  a  special  meeting  of  justices  and  freeholders,  to  have  a 
cupola  on  the  roof  in  which  to  hang  a  bell,  the  bell  being  paid  for  by  sub- 
scription. This  second  court-house  was  erected  in  1759-60.  The  bell,  cast  in 
1763  at  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  was  then  put  in  place  and  did  duty  there 
until  1844,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  belfry  of  the  \\'est  Jersey  Academy, 
where  it  still  remains  a  treasured  relic  of  the  jxist  centurv  and  a  half.  In 
^775-7  the  second  structure,  located  on  the  original  lot  in  the  middle  of 
Broad  street,  was  enclosed  by  a  fence  "to  prevent  the  plaving  of  ball."  In 
1 79 1   a  stove  was  substituted  for  "o])en  fireplaces." 

The  steady  increase  of  population  soon  demanding  a  more  commodious 
court-house,  the  matter  for  a  considerable  time  was  agitated,  and  in  1836  ad- 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   TIRST 

ditional  grouiul  adjoining  the  jail  lot  was  purchased  for  sixteen  himdred 
dollars  and  is  the  location  of  the  present  court-house.  In  the  meantime  the 
eastern  ])art  of  liic  count}'  had  increased  rapidly  in  population  and  Millville 
became  a  strong  rival  as  a  location  for  the  county  seat.  As  the  controversy 
progressed  Fairfield  also  presented  its  claims.  The  three  rivals  were  now 
Bridgeton,  the  original  location,  Millville  and  Fairfield.  The  matter  was 
carried  e\'en  to  the  state  legislature  and  various  laws  pro  and  contra  were 
enacted.  Finally,  upon  a  popular  vote,  the  Brooklyn  location  was  chosen, 
and  in  May  of  1844  Benjamin  Sheppard,  Joseph  W.  Woodrufif  and  Samuel 
Harris  were  appointed  a  building  committee  for  a  new  and  the  present 
court-house  structure.  The  building  is  of  brick,  forty  by  sixty  feet  in  the 
clear;  a  lower  story,  used  for  jury  rooms,  ten  feet  in  the  clear,  used  as  a 
court  room,  was  completed  by  David  F.  Randolph,  contractor,  the  cost 
of  the  entire  structure,  with  appurtenances,  being  $10,674.43.  The  former 
court-house  was  sold  for  eighty-five  dollars  and  torn  down  in  1844.  In 
1881  an  addition  was  built  onto  the  south  end. 

The  first  jail  in  the  county  was  erected  of  logs,  in  March,  1748,  at  Green- 
wich, by  Ananias  Sayre  and  was  used  until  1754,  when,  on  acount  of  frecjuent 
escapes  compelling  the  county  to  pay  the  debts  for  which  the  prisoners  es- 
caping were  held,  a  new  brick  jail  was  erected,  at  Cohansey  Bridge.  The 
log  jail  at  Greenwich  was  sold  in  1764  for  three  pounds  and  five  shillings. 
This  second  jail,  of  brick,  twenty-four  by  thirty-four  feet,  an  underground 
dungeon  seven  feet  in  the  clear,  and  a  second  story  eight  feet  in  the  clear, 
though  almost  as  insecure  as  the  former  log  jail,  stood  until  1790,  in  the 
meantime  a  jail-yard  enclosed  by  a  brick  wall  fourteen  feet  high  having  been 
added.  In  May,  1790,  the  third  jail  structure  was  commenced,  the  location 
being  changed  to  "stand  north  of  the  old  gaol,  between  that  and  Main  street, 
so  as  to  bound  on  said  street."  It  remained  standing  until  1867.  An 
interesting  relic  of  this  jail  is  the  key.  still  in  the  possession  of  the  editor 
of  the  Bridgeton  Chronicle. 

In  February,  1866,  the  contract  for  the  present  jail  structure  was  given 
to  D.  B.  &  W.  C.  Whitekar,  this  contract  price  being  $22,839.  It  includes 
a  fine  residence  for  the  sheriff,  forty  by  twenty-two  feet,  two  stories  and 
attic,  and  adjoining  jail  fifty  by  forty-three  feet,  with  middle  cells  and  outside 
corridor.  A  division  wall  divides  the  cells  into  two  parts,  twelve  each,  built 
in  two  tiers  of  six  cells  each,  each  cell  fi\e  and  a  half  by  se\en  and  a  half 
feet  in  size.     This  jail  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1867. 

Other  county  buildings  are:  The  offices  of  the  count v  clerk  and  sur- 
rogate, with  fire-|iroof  vaults  for  the  preservation  of  the  public  records.  A 
structure  originally  forty  by  thirty  feet  erected  in  1816,  added  to  in  1845, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  23 

with  fire-proof  record  rooms  added  in  i860  and  also  in  1880;  also  the  alms- 
house, first  instituted  and  opened  in  June,  1810,  but  supplanted  by  the 
present  almshouse  in  1851.  This  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $9,129.73,  is 
of  brick,  ninety-five  by  forty-six  feet,  and  three  stories  high  with  basement. 
Each  floor  has  fourteen  rooms,  with  high  ceilings,  and  well  lighted  and 
ventilated.  The  building  stands  on  an  elevated  site  and  is  a  landmark  for 
many  miles  around.  In  1870  a  building  for  insane  paupers  was  erected,  at 
a  cost  of  thirty-t\\o  hundred  dollars. 

VINELAND     LIBRARY     ASSOCIATION     AND      HISTORICAL     AND     ANTI- 
QUARIAN   SOCIETY,    CUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  general  dissemination  of  knowledge  throughout  the  community  is 
more  or  less  accurately  reflected  in  the  attention  paid  to  the  establishment 
of  the  public  libraries.  Before  the  settlement  of  Vineland  had  been  erected 
into  a  borough,  definite  action  had  been  taken  in  reference  to  this  educa- 
tional feature.  In  May.  1876.  a  meeting  was  held  by  a  number  of  gentlemen 
at  the  office  of  E.  M.  Turner  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Vineland 
Library  Association.  The  undertaking  met  with  cordial  support,  backed 
as  it  was  by  popular  demand,  and  May  2y  of  that  year  a  library  was  estab- 
lished and  opened  on  Landis  avenue,  near  Sixth  street.  The  library  has 
steadily  grown  in  importance,  the  number  of  volumes  now  reaching  into  the 
thousands:  and  since  its  inception  its  growth  has  been  materially  advanced 
by  liberal  contributions  of  money  and  valuable  books. 

A  still  older  organization,  founded  soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  place, 
is  the  Vineland  Historical  and  Antiquarian  Society, — a  kind  of  society  the 
fruits  of  which,  whenever  instituted,  are  seldom  foreseen  save  by  its  founders. 
The  preservation  of  documents  and  the  relics  of  antiquity  have  but  little 
interest  for  most  people.  The  founding  of  an  historical  society  coincident 
almost  with  the  settlement  itself  and  the  consequent  preservation  of  its  local 
history  for  future  use,  the  ancestry  and  former  residences  of  the  original 
settlers,  the  founding  and  progress  of  the  settlement,  and  the  early  story 
of  the  erection  of  schools,  churches  and  other  public  buildings,  all  care- 
fully arranged,  is  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  Vineland  that  will  become 
more  and  more  valuable  as  the  years  advance. 

The  first  officers  of  the  society  were:  President  J.  W.  Morton:  vice-pres- 
ident. Timothy  Hoyt:  secretary,  Hosea  Allen:  assistant  secretary,  Mrs. 
William  Bridges:  treasurer.  Mrs.  O.  D.  Graves.  Meetings  were  regularly 
held  and  the  deepest  interest  Avas  taken  in  founding  the  purposes  of  the 
organization,  with  the  result,  as  above  foreshadowed,  that  Vineland,  now 
a  consequential  borough  and  entirely  unique  in  its  history  among  all  the 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

local  developments  of  the  state,  has  its  orig^in  and  growth  accurately 
measured  in  the  archives  of  its  historical  association.  Even  the  first  building, 
erected  on  the  town  plat  by  E.  W.  Fletcher,  was  purchased  by  the  society 
and  placed  upon  their  lot  in  Peach  street  to  be  preserved  as  the  very  be- 
ginning of  the  place. 

When  it  is  recalled  thai  nothing,  however  trivial,  that  occurred  in  the 
remote  past,  is  insignificant  to  the  historian,  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  many 
of  the  critical  points  of  history  are  determined  often  by  the  chance  preser- 
vation of  common-place  events,  it  will  be  seen  that  for  benefit  the  future 
historian,  through  the  faithful  work  of  the  Vineland  Historical  and  Anti- 
quarian Society,  will  have  smooth  and  uninterrupted  sailing. 


SHOURDS  FAMILY. 

(The  following  account   is  tal<en   from  Sliourd's   History  of  Salem   County.   New  Jerstey.) 

History  informs  us  that  soon  after  William  Penn  purchased  the  province 
of  Pennsylvania  he  travelled  through  parts  of  Germany  and  Holland  on 
horseback,  inviting  the  inhabitants  of  those  countries  to  emigrate  to  his 
newly  acquired  province  in  North  America.  Among  those  that  ac- 
cepted his  invitation  was  Cornelius  Shoverede,  a  stadtholder  of  one 
of  the  provinces  of  Holland,  who  with  his  family  arrived  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1684.  They  lived  in  a  cave  near  Germantown  for  a 
short  period,  and  subsequently  Air.  Shoverede  purchased  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  opposite  where  Bordentown,  New  Jersey,  now  is. 
There  was  a  large  stone  placed  at  one  corner  of  the  allotment,  with  his 
initials  cut  on  it,  and  the  writer,  in  company  with  the  late  Hector  Ivins,  who 
at  that  time  resided  near  by,  visited  the  place  of  his  ancestor,  where  he 
lived  and  ended  his  days.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Sophina  Weimar, 
and  most  of  their  children  were  born  in  Holland.  Their  names  were  Samuel. 
Catharine,  Ester,  Sarah  and  Sophina.  The  youngest  married  Zebulon  Gaunt 
in  1715,  and  their  children  were  Samuel,  Zebulon,  Israel,  Hannah,  Alary 
and  Sophina  Gaunt.  Of  these  children  Samuel  married  Hannah  Woolman, 
and  their  seven  children  were  Judah,  .\sher,  Reuben,  Elihu,  Peter.  Sarepta 
and  Elizabeth. 

Samuel,  the  son  of  Cornelius  and  Sophina  Shoverede,  married  Sarah 
Harrison,  of  Philadelphia:  and  he  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Shoverede,  had  a 
large  number  of  children.  Two  of  the  youngest  located  themselves  at 
Tuckerton,  and  that  generation  of  the  family  changed  the  spelling  of  their 
name  from   Shoveretle   to   Shom^ls.      Alarw   the  daughter  of  Samuel   and 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEIV  JERSEY.  25 

Sarah  Sliourds,  married  Jonathan  Pettit,  and  tliey  resided  at  Tuckerton; 
and  their  house  was  stancHng  a  few  years  ago  in  a  commanding  situation, 
near  Barnegat  bay.  Their  son,  Joseph  Pettit,  married  Sarali,  the  daughter 
of  Elisha  and  Mary  Woodnutt  Bassett,  of  Mannington:  they  had  issue — 
\\'oodnutt,  Jonathan  and  Mary  Pettit.  Daniel,  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  Shourds,  married  Christiana  Bellange,  who  died  the  21st  of  the  loth 
month,  1822,  aged  ninety  years.  They  had  six  children,  Samuel,  John, 
Daniel.  Shady,  Hannah  and  Amy  Shourds.  Samuel,  the  eldest,  married 
Hannah  Gray,  and  they  had  nine  children, — Gray,  Tliomas,  Samuel,  Ben- 
jamin, John,  Asa,  Job,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Shourds.  John,  of  this  family, 
married  Sarah  Johnson  and  they  had  five  children, — David,  Joseph.  Hannah, 
Reuben  and  Ruth  Shourds. 

Samuel,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Christiana  Shourds,  as  stated  in  the 
Shourds  genealogy,  married  Hannah  Gray,  a  sister  of  Samuel  Gray.  The 
Gray  family,  Mr.  Shourds  thinks,  were  of  Monmouth  county.  Samuel  Gray 
and  his  wife  had  four  children:  Charles  F.  H.  Gray;  Jesse,  who  resided 
near  Pemberton,  New  Jersey;  Hannah  and  Charity  Gray.  Charles  F.  H. 
Gray  came  to  this  country  in  company  with  his  father  many  years  ago  and 
married  a  daughter  of  Joseph  C.  Nelson,  an  eminent  land  surveyor,  of  Pitts- 
grove.  Charles  and  his  wife  have  several  children.  He  has  filled  many  and 
various  tow'nship  offices.  His  father,  Samuel  Gray,  ended  his  days  at  his 
son's  house.  Charles'  grandfather  and  one  of  his  uncles  emigrated  to 
Genesee  county.  New  York,  more  than  half  a  century  since,  in  company  with 
Samuel  and  John  Shourds. 

Samuel  and  his  brother  John  Shourds  sold  their  property  at  Tuckerton 
over  fifty  years  ago.  Samuel  rented  a  farm  in  Back  Neck,  Cumberland 
county,  and  resided  there  for  several  years,  and  John  Shourds  rented 
property  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  Rowen,  in  Penn's  Neck,  and  he  and  his 
family  resided  there  several  years.  Samuel  and  his  brother  John  sub- 
sequently removed  to  New  York  with  their  families,  excepting  David,  the 
eldest  son  of  John  Shourds,  who  married  and  settled  in  the  township  of 
Lower  Penn's  Neck;  he  was  the  father  of  the  Joseph  Shourds  of  that 
township.  Samuel  Shourds  and  his  brother  John  purchased  large  tracts  in 
parts  of  Monroe  and  Genesee  counties.  New  York.  The  greater  part  of 
their  land  was  then  in  its  primitive  state,  it  being  soon  after  the  Erie  canal 
was  completed,  but  their  property  advanced  rapidly  in  value  and  the  natural 
result  was  they  became  cjuite  independent  in  a  few  years. 

An  uncommon  circumstance  occurred  a  few  years  before  Samuel  and 
John's  death.  Desirous  of  visiting  their  native  place  once  more  before 
their   death,    they    came    to    Woodstown    to    visit   Jonathan    and    Hannah 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PIRST 

Smith,  the  latter  being  their  sister,  and  all  four  of  them  went  to  Tuckerton 
by  land.  Samuel  was  then  in  his  eighty-ninth  year,  his  brother  John  two 
years  younger.  Jonathan  Smith  in  his  eighty-eighth  yeai'.  and  his  wife  Han- 
nah eighty-two  years  old.  \Mien  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  their  nativity 
what  pleasing  and  also  sad  reflections  they  must  have  had  in  recurring  back 
to  the  days  of  their  youth.  How  many  of  their  former  friends  and  associates 
had  gone  to  tlieir  final  resting  place!  There  was  one.  however,  who  resided 
at  Great  Egg  Harbor,  their  brother  Daniel,  who  was  still  li\ing  to  receive 
his  aged  relatives. 

Daniel,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Christiana  Shourds.  married  Rebecca 
Leeds,  and  their  children  were.named  William,  Phebe,  Matilda  and  Daniel 
(2d).  Shady,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Christiana  Shourds,  married 
Walter  Wilson,  of  Burlington  city,  and  their  only  child  was  William,  who 
died  a  minor.  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Christiana  Shourds, 
born  about  the  year  1765.  married  Jonathan  Smith,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Richard  Smith,  of  Long  Island.  They  had  three  children. — Jerusha,  Eliza- 
beth and  Jonathan  Smith.  Jerusha  married  Samuel,  the  son  of  William 
White,  of  Woodstown,  and  their  children  were  Mary,  Samuel.  William. 
David,  Wilson  and  Jonathan.  Jonathan  married  Lydia  Waddington.  a 
daughter  of  Aaron  Waddington,  of  Elsinboro.  Elizabeth  was  twice  married. 
Her  first  husband  was  Clement  Hinchman.  and  they  had  a  daughter,  Clem- 
ence  Hinchman.  Her  second  husband  was  William  Cawley,  a  son  of  Samuel 
Cawley.  Jr.  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  Smith,  was 
twice  married.  Her  first  husband  was  Daniel  Bowen.  M.  D..  a  native  of 
Bridgeton.  They  had  one  son.  Smith  Bowen.  who  married  Ann  Bisham, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Bisham.  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  have  three  children, 
Mary  Elizabeth.  Anna  Stoke  and  Samuel  Bisham  Bowen.  Elizabeth  Smith's 
second  husband  was  Hosea  Fithian.  M.  D..  a  son  of  Jonathan  Fithian,  of 
Cumberland  county.  They  had  three  children. — Hannah,  Mary  and  Eliza- 
beth. Elizabeth,  their  mother,  died  in  1854.  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Hannah  Smith,  married  Hannah,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Davis,  of  Piles 
Grove,  and  they  had  four  children:  Mary  E.;  Samuel,  who  died  young: 
Jonathan  and  Ellen  Smith. 

Samuel,  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Shourds  was  born  the  24th  of  the 
7th  month,  1718.  The  latter  was  a  clock  and  watch  maker,  and  followed 
his  trade  in  Bordentown.  New  Jersey.  His  wife  was  Taminson.  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Pancoast,  of  Burlington  county.  Taminson  was  born 
the  29th  of  the  nth  month,  1725.  Benjamin,  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Taminson  P.  Shourds,  was  born  the  7th  of  the  ist  month,  1753.  He  sub- 
sequently married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  Silvers,  of 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OP   NEW   JERSEY.  27 

Piles  Grove,  and  tliev  liad  se\en  children, — Thomas,  Rachel,  Samuel,  Rhoda, 
William,  Mary  and  Benjamin.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  died  the  23d  of  the  nth 
month,  1778.  Rachel,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Shourds. 
married  Jervis  Hall  of  Mannington.  as  his  second  wife.  In  this  family  were 
two  children, — Casper  and  Rachel  Hall.  Rachel,  their  mother,  died  when 
her  children  were  young.  Casper  Hall  died  in  18 19,  when  he  was  about 
eighteen  years  old.  Rachel,  the  daughter  of  Jervis  and  Rachel  S.  Hall, 
married  Josiah,  the  youngest  son  of  Samuel  Nicholson,  of  Mannington,  and 
they  had  two  or  three  sons  and  one  daughter:  Hannah  Nicholson,  who 
married  George  Radcliff  and  has  children;  and  Josiah,  who  has  been  de- 
ceased many  years  and  whose  widow,  Rachel,  resides  in  the  city  of  Salem, 
and  is  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 

Rhoda,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Shourds,  married  John, 
the  son  of  John  and  Susan  Denn,  of  Mannington,  and  their  five  children 
are  Rachel,  Mary,  Susan,  Ann  and  Rebecca;  the  last  mentioned  died 
young.  John  Denn,  Jr.,  died  in  Mannington  before  he  arrived  at  middle  age. 
Soon  after  that  event  Rhoda  Denn  removed  to  the  town  of  Salem  with  her 
children.  She  was  above  mediocrity  in  intellect  and  remarkable  for  self- 
denial,  and  was  a  recommended  minister  in  the  Society  of  Friends  for  a 
number  of  years.  Her  communications  in  public  meetings  were  not  ex- 
tended to  a  great  length,  but  she  possessed  a  faculty  of  condensing  and 
saying  in  a  few  words  much  for  her  hearers  to  reflect  upon.  She  has  been 
deceased  a  number  of  years.  Her  daughter,  Rachel  Denn,  became  the 
second  wife  of  Professor  John  Griscom,  the  son  of  William  and  Rachel  Denn 
Griscom.  They  resided  in  the  city  of  Burlington  until  his  death,  and  soon 
afterward  she  returned  to  Salem.  Mary,  the  second  daughter  of  John  and 
Rhoda  Denn,  died  a  young  woman,  unmarried.  Susan  Denn,  the  third 
daughter,  remains  single.  She  and  her  sister,  Rachel  D.  Griscom,  keep  house 
together,  on  Broadway,  in  Salem.  Anna,  the  fourth  daughter,  married 
William  Gibbons,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  two  children,  Susan  and  Mary 
Gibbons.  William,  their  father,  has  been  deceased  several  years.  Their 
son  Henry  died  in  the  West  Town  boarding  school.  He  was  a  promising 
and  interesting  youth,  and  if  his  life  had  been  spared  we  have  no  doubt  that 
he  would  have  made  his  mark  on  the  sands  of  time.  Anna  Gibbons  and  her 
daughter  Susan  reside  in  the  city  of  Salem. 

William,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Shourds,  married  Martha,  the 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  Andrews,  of  Mannington.  Peter  was  a  native 
of  Great  Egg  Harbor.  His  wife  Mary  was  the  daughter  of  Wliitten  and 
Martha  Huddy  Cripps.  of  Mannington. 

(Mr.  Shourds  frecjuently  alludes  to  the  Cripps  family  in  his  historv,  with- 


28  inOCRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE   FIRST 

out  stating  their  ancestry.  It  is  an  old  family  of  England.  Nathaniel,  the 
first  of  whom  the  author  has  any  knowledge,  was  the  son  of  John  Cripps. 
born  about  1656.  He  married,  in  England,  Miss  (irace.  a  sister  of  James 
Whittcn,  who  located  land  in  Lower  Mannington  at  the  first  settlement 
of  Salem  connty.  Nathaniel  CrijjjJS  and  his  wife  Grace  came  to 
America  in  1O78  and  settled  in  Burlington  county.  By  tradition  he  was 
the  founder  of  Mount  Holly.  Tliey  had  six  chikh-en, — John,  Benjamin, 
Samuel,  Virginia,  Theophila  and  Hannah  .\nn  Cripps.  John,  the  eldest  son. 
married  Mary  Eves,  of  Haddonfield.  Benjamin,  the  .second  son,  married 
Mary  Hough.  Their  children  were  W'hitten,  who  in  1759,  married  Martha 
Huddy.  John,  their  second  son,  died  a  minor:  Hannah  married  Samuel 
Mason,  of  Mannington  in  1756,  a  son  of  Thomas  Mason,  of  the  same  place: 
and  Cyntha  married  James  Bonsall,  of  Darby,  Pennsylvania.  Whitten  Cripps 
subsequently  w  as  the  owner  of  land  estate  of  his  great  uncle,  James  Whitten. 
He  had  two  children:  Benjamin,  who  married  the  daughter  of  Peter  Carney, 
of  Upper  Penn's  Neck:  and  Mary  Cripps.  who  married  Peter  Andrews,  a 
native  of  Egg  Harbor.) 

Resuming  attention  to  William  and  Martha  Shourds  we  state  that  tliey 
had  four  children,  Rachel,  Mary,  Benjamin  and  William  Shourds.  Rachel 
married  Thomas  Mullineux,  of  Ulster  county.  New  York,  who  is  deceased. 
and  she  lived  at  Mount  Holly,  Burlington  county,  this  state.  Mary  Shourds 
lived  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  remained  single.  Benjamin,  the 
eldest  son,  resides  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  a  bricklayer  by  trade.  He  mar- 
ried and  has  several  children.  William  Shourds  was  twice  married.  For 
his  first  wife  he  married  Hannah  Yardly,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. — 
Martha,  Letitia  and  Hannah.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Rebecca  Rainer. 
Mary,  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Shourds,  married  Samuel  Hewes. 
of  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania:  they  are  both  deceased,  leaving  one 
son,— Charles  Hewes.  Samuel  Shourds,  the  second  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  Shourds,  was  born  the  6th  of  the  9th  month,  1781,  and  married  Eliza- 
beth, the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Carpenter  Ware.  Jacob  was  the 
great-grandson  of  Joseph  Ware,  the  emigrant,  who  came  to  this  country  in 
the  ship  Grififith,  as  a  servant,  and  landed  at  Salem  the  5th  of  the  loth  month. 
1675.  Jacob's  wife  was  Mary  Carpenter,  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Powell  Carpenter.  William  was  the  grandson  of  Joshua  Carpenter,  of  Phila- 
delphia. He  was  born  in  the  state  of  Delaware  and  came  to  this  county 
about  the  year  1745  or  '6  and  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Powell,  Jr.,  who  was  several  years  younger  than  her  husband.  They  had 
four  children, — Mary,  William.  Powell  and  .\bigail.  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
Shourds  had  three  children, — William,  Marv  and  Thomas.     William  died 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  29 

young.  Samuel  Shourds,  the  father  of  the  forementioned  children,  died  in 
1807  in  his  twenty-six  year.  He  resided,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  Lower 
Penn's  Neck,  where  his  children  were  born.  Mary  Shourds  married  William 
Bradway.  the  son  of  Ezra  and  Mary  Denn  Bradway,  of  Lower  Alloway's 
Creek.  They  have  six  children, — Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Mary.  Anna,  Rachel 
and  Ellen  Bradway.  Thomas  Shourds  was  born  the  8th  of  the  2d  month,  , 
1805,  and  married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  Mason  Thompson, 
the  loth  of  the  ist  month,  1828.  Joseph  Thompson,  her  father,  was  the  son 
of  Joshua  Thompson,  a  native  of  Elsinboro,  and  the  great-grandson  of  An- 
drew Thompson,  the  emigrant,  who  landed  at  Elsinboro  in  1677.  Ann 
Mason,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Thompson,  was  the  daughter  of  John  Mason,  who 
was  the  son  of  Thomas  Mason,  and  he  was  the  son  of  John  Mason  who 
emigrated  from  England  and  lanfled  at  Philadelphia  in  1684.  and  soon  after- 
ward settled  at  Salem. 

Thomas  and  Sarah  Thompson  Shourds  had  eight  children:  Anna  T., 
Samuel  (who  died  when  about  twenty  months  old),  Tliompson,  Samuel  (2d), 
Thomas  M.,  Elizabeth  T.,  Sarah  W.  and  Mary  Carpenter  Shourds.  Samuel 
Shourds  (2d)  died  when  he  was  in  his  nineteenth  year.  Sarah  Ware  Shourds 
died  when  she  was  in  her  twenty-first  year.  Elizabeth  Thompson  Shourds 
died  when  she  was  about  thirty-one  years  old.  Thompson,  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  T.  Shourds,  was  a  carpenter  and  builder  and  followed  that 
business  in  Philadelphia.  He  married  Rachel,  the  daughter  of  Comly  and 
Susan  Tyson.  They  had  three  children. — -William.  Anna  T.  and  Susan  T. 
Rachel,  his  wife,  is  deceased,  as  is  also  their  oldest  child.  Willie  Shourds. 
Thomas  Mason  Shourtls,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  T.  Shourds,  married 
Anna,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Brown,  of  Alloway's  Creek,  and 
had  three  children. — Sarah  W..  Mary  and  Thompson  Shourds. 


SUMMERILL  FAMILY. 

(The   following  sketcli   is   taken   fiom   Shourd's    History   of   Salem   County,    New   Jersey.) 

The  Summerills  were  a  large  and  ancient  family  of  L'pper  Penn's  Neck. 
The  most  reliable  account  of  the  family  is  that  William  Summerill  and 
Thomas  Carney  emigrated  from  Ireland  about  1725,  and  settled  in  Penn's 
Neck,  Salem  county.  William  Summerill  soon  after  his  arrival  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  near  the  old  brick  mill  at  the  head  of  Game  Creek, 
extending  to  Salem  creek.  He  and  his  wife  Mary  resided  on  that  part  later 
owned  by  Benjamin  and   Rebecca  Summerill  Black,  she  having  inherited 


3° 


BIOCR.IPHIC.IL   HISTORY    01-    THE   1-lRST 


the  proi)ertv  from  lier  father.  Tliev  had  two  sons, — Joseph  and  John. 
When  liis  chiUh-en  were  young  lie  liad  the  misfortune  of  losing  his  wife. 
soon  after  wliich  he  left  the  township  of  Penn's  Neck  and  settled  in  Pitts- 
grove  and  there  married  a  widow-  named  Elwell.  By  this  wife  he  had  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  subsequently  married  a  Mr.  Newkirk,  and  they  be- 
i.-ame  the  parents  of  Garrett  and  Matthew  Xewkirk.  of  mercantile  fame  of 
Philadelphia. 

.\n  incident  in  connection  with  the  introduction  of  those  eminent  men 
into  business  life  in  Philadelphia  was  related  to  the  w'riter  more  than  thirty 
years  ago  by  an  aged  physician,  then  a  resident  of  Pittsgrove.  He  said  the 
father  of  Garrett  and  Matthew  Newkirk  was  in  the  practice  of  going  to  the 
Philadelphia  market  with  his  poultry  once  in  a  year,  which  was  common 
among  the  farmers  of  Salem  county  at  that  time.  (3n  one  of  his  trips  his 
eldest  daughters  accompanied  him  for  the  jnu-pose  of  buying  a  new  bonnet. 
Soon  after  they  arrived  in  the  city  she  went  to  one  of  the  milliners  and  ]nir- 
chased  herself  one,  and  whilst  waiting  for  it  to  be  trimmed  to  her  liking  she 
was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  she  would  be  glad  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  learning  tlie  trade  before  she  left.  She  asked  the  milliner  in  attendance 
if  she  would  be  willing  to  take  her  to  learn  the  trade.  The  milliner  replied 
in  the  affirmative:  but  when  she  mentioned  the  matter  to  her  father  he  di.s- 
couraged  her  and  desired  her  not  to  undertake  it.  But  her  mind  was  settled 
upon  it.  She  told  her  father  that  if  he  would  pay  her  board  w'hilst  learning 
the  trade,  that  would  be  all  of  his  estate  she  wanted.  He  at  last  consented. 
After  she  had  learned  the  business  she  set  up  on  her  own  account,  and  in  a 
few  years  accumulated  a  fortune.  At  the  death  of  her  father  she  obtained  a 
situation  in  one  of  the  dry-goods  stores  for  her  eldest  brother  Garrett,  and 
in  a  short  time  afterward  she  found  a  situation  for  her  younger  brother. 
IMatthew.  Both  of  them  eventually  became  successful  and  wealthy  mer- 
chants in  their  adopted  city.  William  Summerill,  the  emigrant,  died  in 
Pittsgrove,  at  a  very  advanced  age. 

Joseph,  the  eldest  son  of  William  antl  Mary  Summerill,  settled  in  Wil- 
mington, Delaware,  and  engaged  in  the  shipping  and  blacksmithing  busi- 
ness. He  married  and  had  two  sons  and  two  daugliters;  both  of  his 
daughters  married  sea  captains.  His  sons,  Joseph  and  Nehemiah,  became 
merchants  in  Philadelphia,  but  finally  failed,  causing  also  the  failure  of  their 
father,  .\fter  this  they  removed  to  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania,  where  it  is 
said  some  of  their  family  still  remain. 

John,  the  youngest  son  of  W'illiani  and  .Mary  Summerill,  married  Naomi 
Carney,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Carney,  of  Carney's  Point.  The 
Carneys  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  Delaware  river,  being  a  part 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   :Y£(f   JERSEY.  31 

of  the  Bowtown  tract  of  sixteen  Inindred  and  forty  acres  that  formerly  be- 
longed to  Matthias  Xelson.  he  being  a  Swede.  John  Snmmerill  and  his  wife 
Naomi  C.  owned  and  lived  on  the  property  that  his  father  purchased  when  he 
first  settled  in  New  Jersey.  It  was  later  owned  and  occupied  by  Benjamin 
and  Rebecca  S.  Black,  as  before  mentioned.  The  old  mansion  house  was 
burned  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  by  a  marauding  party  from  the 
British  fleet  that  was  lying  in  the  Delaware  river  opposite  Helms  Cove. 
There  is  now  a  large  iron  pot  in  the  possession  of  the  Summerill  family  that 
was  in  the  old  family  mansion  when  it  was  burned:  it  certainly  is  quite  a 
centennial  relic.  John  Summerill  (ist)  died  comparatively  a  young  man. 
leaving  a  w'idow  and  four  sons. — John,  Jr.,  Joseph,  Thomas  and  William. — 
and  two  daughters, — ]\Iary  and  Rebecca.  Naomi,  their  mother,  proved  a 
parent  indeed.  She  remained  and  carried  on  farming  and  raised  and  edu- 
cated her  six  children.     She  never  married  again. 

John  Summerill  (2d)  married  Christiana  Holton  and  had  nine  children. 
James  and  Josiah  died  minors.  Their  father  was  a  successful  agriculturist 
and  at  his  death  was  the  owner  of  a  large  quantity  of  excellent  land  in  the 
township  of  Upper  Penn's  Neck.  He  lived  to  be  nearly  four-score  years, 
leaving  four  sons  and  two  daughters, — John  (3d),  Naomi,  Garnett,  William, 
Ann,  and  Joseph  C.  Joseph  Summerill,  the  second  son  of  John  (ist),  mar- 
ried Mary  Linmin  and  had  two  children. — \\'illiam  and  Mary. — both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  William  Summerill,  a  son  of  Joseph,  married  Elizabeth 
A.  Crispin.  He  purchased  the  James  Manson  farm  in  Mannington.  near 
Salem,  and  resided  thereon  until  his  death.  He  left  a  large  number  of  chil- 
dren. William  Summerill's  children's  names  are  not  now  accessible,  except- 
ing three  of  the  sons, — James,  Robert  and  Henry,  who  are  residents  of 
Upper  Pittsgrove. 

Mary,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  L.  Summerill,  married  Stephen 
Straughn.  He  is  deceased.  Thomas,  the  son  of  John  and  Naomi  Carrey 
Summerill,  married  Elizabeth  Borden,  and  they  both  died  young,  leaving  a 
number  of  young  children.  One  of  the  sons  was  married,  and  left  two  sons. 
Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  B.  Summerill,  married  Sam- 
uel Holton;  she  is  deceased,  leaving  one  son.  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Summerill,  married  Somers  Barber;  the  latter  is  deceased  and  leaves 
two  children.  William,  a  son  of  John  and  Naomi  Summerill,  died  a  young 
man,  unmarried.  Mary,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Naomi  Summerill,  was 
twice  married.  Her  first  husband's  name  was  Clark,  and  after  his  death  she 
married  John  Holton.  They  left  three  sons, — Thomas,  Samuel  and  Andrew 
Holton:    The  last  named  is  living;  the  two  oldest  brothers  are  deceased. 

John  Summerill  (2d)  died  in  1854  and  left  seven  children.     The  eldest 


32 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


son.  John  Sunmierill  (3cl)  died  in  1865,  aged  sixty-two  years.  He  was  above 
mediocrity  in  mental  abilities.  In  early  life  he  became  an  active  j^olitician, 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  when  a  young  man  and  was  sul)sequently 
chosen  a  state  senator  and  served  the  full  term  with  entire  satisfaction  to  his 
constituents.  He  was  affable  and  very  pleasing  in  his  manner.  His  wife  was 
Emily  Parker.  At  his  death  he  left  two  sons, — John  (4th)  and  Joseph  C. 
Summerili,  both  of  whom  are  storekeepers  and  large  dealers  in  grain  at 
Helms  Cove,  a  short  distance  below  Penn  Grove.  There  their  father  com- 
menced same  business  in  1829. 

Naomi,  the  daughter  of  John  (2d)  and  Christiana  H.  Summerili,  married 
Robert,  the  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Newell.  Robert  and  his  wife  after 
their  marriage  resided  in  the  township  of  Mannington.  They  had  three  sons 
and  one  daughter.  John  S.  Newell,  their  eldest  son,  married  Emma,  the 
daughter  of  William  Morris,  late  of  Sharptown.  They  have  one  child,  Rob- 
ert. Their  daughter  Josephine  married  Edward  .\.  Vanneman.  of  Upper 
Penn's  Neck,  and  he  is  deceased,  leaving  children.  The  two  younger  sons  of 
Robert  and  Naomi  Newell  are  Robert,  Jr.,  and  James.  Garnett,  the  second 
son  of  John  and  Christiana  Summerili,  was  a  farmer  and  owned  and  resided 
on  the  property  that  was  previously  owned  and  occupied  by  Peter  Carney, 
the  youngest  son  of  Thomas  Carney,  Sr.  Garnett  married  Mary  Borden,  of 
Sharptown,  and  they  had  four  children, — James,  Annie,  William  G.  and  John 
M'.  D.  James  is  deceased:  .\nnie  married  Henry  M.  Wright:  William  J.  and 
John  M.  Summerili  are  unmarried.  William,  the  third  son  of  John  and 
Christiana  Summerili.  married  Hannah  \anneman.  He  resided  in  Cjiper 
Penn"s  Neck.  He  and  his  wife  had  two  sons, — Josiah  and  Daniel  \'.  Sum- 
merili,— both  of  whom  were  married  and  reside  on  farms  near  Penn  (irove. 

William  Sununerill  did  a  large  amount  of  public  business  in  his  native 
county,  having  been  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Salem  courts,  and  was  also  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  Canal  Meadow  Company.  This  canal  was  projected 
as  early  as  1801  by  John  Moore  White  and  Michael  Wayne,  two  eminent 
lawyers  of  West  Jersey,  who  at  that  time  owned  a  large  tract  of  low  land  and 
meadow  bordering  Salem  creek.  They,  in  conjunction  with  Joseph  Reeve, 
who  resided  near  Sharptown,  made  an  application  to  the  state  legislature  for 
a  law  to  cut  a  navigable  canal  for  a  twofold  purpose.  The  .said  canal  was 
intended  to  carry  off  the  waters  that  flowed  down  the  upper  branches  of 
Salem  creek  into  the  river,  instead  of  a  circuitous  route  of  more  than  twenty 
miles  to  the  Delaware  river  by  the  course  of  Salem  creek,  and  only  two  miles 
and  four  rods  by  the  canal.  The  contemplated  canal  was  dug  but  proved  a 
failure.  It  was  attempted  later  to  open  it  deeper,  but  it  was  soon  abandoned 
as  impracticable.    Some  seven  years  since  there  was  an  application  made  to 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  33 

the  state  legislature  for  a  new  law  for  the  purpose  of  taxing  all  the  owners 
of  the  low  lands  and  meadows  that  lay  above  John  Denn's  canal  to  the 
head  of  tide-water,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  digging  a  canal  large  enough 
for  navigation,  and  also  to  stop  the  creek  some  distance  below  the  contem- 
plated canal.  The  meadow  was  surveyed  by  the  commissioners  chosen  for 
that  purpose,  which  survey  amounted  to  seven  or  eight  thousand  acres,  and 
a  tax  was  assessed  on  said  meadow  by  a  second  commission  elected  for  that 
purpose,  agreeably  to  their  law.  The  directors  decided  in  cutting  the  new 
canal  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  about  half  a  mile  below  Hawk's  bridge,  that 
was  dug  nearly  seventy  years  previously.  Through  the  energy  and  perse- 
verance of  Elisha  Bassett,  William  Summerill,  George  Biddle,  David  Pettit 
and  Robert  Walker,  the  work  was  commenced  and  the  canal  was  completed 
so  as  to  be  navigable,  and  Salem  creek  completely  stopped  about  fifty  rods 
below  the  canal  where  it  empties  into  that  creek.  This  public  work  was  un- 
dertaken against  great  opposition  by  some  of  the  owners  of  land  that  lav  bor- 
dering on  Salem  creek,  notwithstanding  it  is  likely  to  prove  one  of  the 
greatest  public  benefits  of  the  kind  ever  undertaken  and  fully  consummated 
in  Salem  county.  In  regard  to  navigation  it  enables  owners  of  land  in  Upper 
Penn's  Neck,  a  large  part  of  Mannington  and  Piles  Grove  townships  as  well 
as  the  owners  of  extensive  meadows  and  low-lands  that  lie  below  the  dam, 
to  send  the  products  of  their  farms  to  market  without  much  cost.  The  com- 
plete draining  by  the  canal  makes  their  meadows  more  than  twofold  more 
profitable  than  heretofore. 

Ann,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Christiana  Summerill,  married  Benjamin 
Black.  They  owned  and  resided  on  the  old  homestead  farm  of  the  Summer- 
ill's,  as  heretofore  mentioned.  They  have  two  daughters.  Joseph,  the 
youngest  son  of  John  and  Christiana  Summerill,  was  a  Methodist  clergv- 
man,  of  which  religious  society,  it  is  thought,  most  of  the  Summerill  familv 
are  members.  Joseph  married  Sarah  I.  Vanneman,  and  has  six  children. — 
three  daughters  and  three  sons, — Hannah,  Christiana,  Louisa,  Joseph  C, 
Thomas  C.  and  Daniel  Vanneman  Summerill.  At  his  death,  Thomas  Carnev  ' 
(ist)  left  two  sons — Thomas  and  Peter  Carney — and  two  or  three  daughters. 
As  was  the  custom  in  that  day,  he  devised  all  his  real  estate  to  his  sons.  His 
daughters,  particularly  Naomi,  his  eldest  daughter,  who  married  John  Sum- 
merill (ist),  did  not  inherit  any  of  her  father's  real  estate.  Thomas  Carnev, 
Jr..  left  one  daughter  to  inherit  his  large  estate,  who  afterward  married  the 
late  Robert  G.  Johnson  of  Salem.  Peter  Carney,  the  brother  of  Thomas, 
left  two  daughters.  One  of  them  married  Benjamin  Cripps,  of  Mannington. 
the  other  daughter  married  John  Tuft,  of  Salem,  but  died  voung,  leaving 
one  son, — Sinnickson   Tuft. 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

There  is  a  singular  circumstance  connected  with  the  Carney  and  Sum- 
merill  families  that  does  not  often  occur.  Naomi  Carney  Summerill's 
descendants,  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  a  century,  owned  the  larger  part  of  the 
landed  estate  that  belonged  to  her  two  brothers,  Thomas  and  Peter  Carney, 
including  several  large  and  \'aluable  farms. 


JAMES    D.    TORTON. 

James  D.  Torton,  who  for  the  ]5ast  three  years  has  been  the  able  and 
popular  mayor  of  Penn  Grove,  Salem  county,  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  the 
county,  his  birth  having  taken  place  in  Ouinton  township,  February  24,  1840. 
From  his  early  manhood  he  has  been  faithful  to  the  duties  devolving  upon 
him  as  a  citizen  of  this  great  republic;  and  when  in  the  dark  days  of  the 
civil  war  the  Union  was  threatened  he  responded  to  her  call  for  assistance 
from  her  loyal  sons  and  nobly  fought  for  her  preservation.  None  the  less, 
in  days  of  peace  and  prosperity,  he  has  fulfilled  the  duties  which  fall  to  the 
share  of  every  good  citizen,  casting  in  the  background  his  personal  interests 
in  order  that  the  welfare  of  the  majority  might  be  subserved. 

His  grandfather,  William  Torton,  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Salem  county.  New 
Jersey,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  leaving  two  sons  to 
perpetuate  his  name.  John,  who  was  a  practical,  successful  farmer  of  Lower 
Penn's  Neck  township,  died  in  1855,  when  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his 
age. 

Thomas  Torton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  his  youth  mastered  his  father's  trade,  that  of  shoemak- 
ing,  following  it  to  some  extent  throughout  life,  and  also  carried  on  a  farm. 
He  was  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  upright  and  pub- 
Hc-spirited,  noble  and  conscientious,  and  beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances. In  1842  he  became  a  resident  of  Penn's  Grove,  where  he  passed 
his  remaining  years,  his  death  taking  place  in  1861,  when  he  was  in  the 
sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

For  a  wMfe  Thomas  Torton  chose  Ann  Duer,  a  daughter  of  James  Duer. 
the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  class-leader  in  Camden,  New  Jersev.  Several 
children  blessed  their  union,  namely:  William  D.,  who  was  born  in  Canidt-n, 
New  Jersey,  Salem  county,  this  state,  is  now  residing  near  Penn's  Grove  and 
is  a  lighthouse  keeper;  Sarah,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of  Augustus  Cann. 
of  Penn  Grove;  Mary,  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Hinchman,  of  Camden; 
Louisa  (ist),  who  died  an  infant  at  Pennville;    Elizabeth,  deceased,  formcrlv 


2-^:^^^  ^  X-}-/^ 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEIV   JERSEY.  35 

the  wife  of  William  S.  Bowen,  of  Camden;  Louisa  {2(\).  who  died  wlien  six 
years  of  age,  at  Pennville;  James  D..  the  sul)ject  of  this  sketch;-  Louisa  (3d), 
the  widow  of  George  Kirk,  now  living  in  Salem;  John  W.,  who  was  an  em- 
ploye at  Dupont's  powder-works  and  on  retiring  from  active  business  spent 
his  last  years  at  Penn  Grove:  and  Thomas  J.,  of  Penn  Grove,  and  now  one 
of  the  fish  wardens  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey. 

James  Duer,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  James  D.  Torton.  was  first 
married  to  Miss  Reeves,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Ann,  Rebecca,  the 
wife  of  William  Sharp;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Fogg;  and  William.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Miss  Venable,  of  Camden  county,  this  state,  and 
their  children  were:  Hetty,  Mrs.  Richard  Bender:  EIizal)eth.  Mrs.  William 
Bender;  Charlotte,  Mrs.  Alfred  Williamson:  and  James, — all  residents  of 
Camden. 

When  he  was  a  lad  of  about  sixteen  years,  James  D.  Torton  determined 
to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  yielded  to  a  boyish  desire  to  sail  the  high 
seas  for  a  period,  and  in  August,  1862,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  K,  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
and  served  for  one  year  as  a  private  soldier.  He  participated  in  numerous 
engagements,  the  principal  ones  being  the  battles  of  Freflericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville.  When  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  army,  in  August,  1863. 
he  returned  to  his  home  and  customary  pursuits  for  a  time.  Init  afterward 
enlisted  in  the  government  service,  in  the  navy  department,  being  ship  car- 
penter on  the  celebrated  Tuscarora,  which  vessel  was  the  one  used  to  convey 
Jefferson  Davis  to  Fortress  Monroe  after  his  capture,  and  General  Reagan 
and  Alexander  Stephens  as  well. 

In  1866  Mr.  Torton  came  to  Penn  Grove,  where  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Michael  K.  and  Sarah  (Cook)  Dalbow, 
her  father  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Upper  Penn's  Neck  township.  Her  father 
died  when  in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  and  her  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  Their  children  were:  Hannah  yi.;  Phoebe,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Mattison;  William  and  Herbert  E.,  of  Penn  Gro\-e:  Samuel,  of  New  Mexico; 
Maggie,  the  wife  of  J.  Ford  Thompson:  Daneline,  the  wife  of  Jonathan 
Denny;  and  Louisa,  deceased. 

During  the  years  1867-8  Air.  Torton  was  engaged  in  carpentering  and 
house-building,  and  at  the  end  of  that  period  bought  out  the  undertaking 
business  of  Augustus  Cann,  and  has  conducted  it  successfully  for  more  than 
three  decades.  He  is  much  respected  in  this  locality  and  deserves  the  high 
place  which  he  occupies  in  the  esteem  of  all. 

In  1892,  when  Penn  Grove  was  made  a  borough,  he  was  elected  its  mayor 
and  acted  in  that  capacity  for  one  year,  then  being  succeeded  by  D.  B.  Sum- 


36  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

nierill;  and  in  1896,  he  was  again  cliosen  as  mayor  by  the  voice  of  the  peo- 
])Ie.  and  he  still  continues  to  hold  that  responsible  position.  For  twelve  years 
he  has  served  as  the  coroner,  serving  now  a  three-years'  term;  besides  which 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  and  the  president  of  the 
county  board  of  trustees.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Heptasophs  and  the  Order  of  American 
Mechanics,  in  all  of  which  he  has  held  offices, — a  fact  telling  plainly  of  his 
efficiency  and  jiopularity. 


COLLINS    B.    ALLEN. 


Although  a  young  man  who  has  not  yet  reached  his  prime.  Mr.  Allen  is 
a  farmer  of  prominence  and  influence  in  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  where 
he  was  born  August  9,  1866.  His  birthplace  was  the  old  Bassett  homestead, 
in  Mannington  township,  and  his  parents  were  Samuel  B.  and  Hannah  D. 
(Bassett)  .\llen,  well-known  farmers  of  that  township.  His  great-grandfather 
was  Enoch  Allen,  of  MuUica  Hill.  Gloucester  county,  where  he  owned  two 
f^rms  and  resided  all  his  life,  following  the  arts  of  husbandry.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  died  May  18,  1834,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  His  children  were  as  follows:  William,  born  November 
26,  1775.  died  November  11.  1817;  Martha,  born  March  13,  1778,  died  Octo- 
ber I  J,  1822;  Hannah,  born  August  11,  1780,  married  Samuel  Moore,  and 
died  January  17,  1808;  Rosanna,  born  April  20,  1783,  married  Thomas  Cole, 
and  died  March  2^,  1862;  Enoch,  Jr.,  born  May  3,  1785.  died  April  8,  1831; 
Rachel,  born  February  4.  1788.  married  Benjamin  Bacon.  April  29.  1807,  and 
died  October  26.  181 3;  Priscilla.  born  December  8.  1789.  died  August  20. 
1833:  Samuel  C.  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject:  Ann,  born  February  4, 
1796,  married  A.  Guarward.  and  died  .April  24,  1859,  and  Isaac  was  born 
February  17,  1802. 

Samuel  C.  Allen  was  born  July  28,  1798,  at  Mullica  Hill,  Gloucester 
countv,  this  state,  and  became  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  his  section  of 
the  countr\-.  He  owned  a  large  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  and  was  very 
successful  in  his  farming  operations.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  his  life  was  such  that  he  commanded  universal  respect.  He 
married  Sarah  Pancoast  on  February  2,  1820,  who  presented  him  with  four 
children,  namely:  Martha  P.,  born  November  17,  1820,  and  married  John 
W.  Hazelton,  a  farmer  of  Mullica  Hill,  by  whom  she  had  seven  children — 
Stacy,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Collins,  Ella,  Abbott  and  John;  Hannah  Ann,  born 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  37 

December  17,  1822,  and  died  Septemlier  25.  1828:  Collins,  and  Samuel  P., 
the  father  of  our  subject. 

Samuel  P.  Allen  was  born  January  2,  1828,  in  Gloucester  county,  and  for 
forty-five  years  has  cultivated  land  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  of  the  county  and  a  staunch  Republican.  He  was  a 
freeholder,  served  on  the  township  committee,  was  assessor  of  the  township 
for  three  years,  overseer  of  the  highways,  surrogate  of  Salem  county  anrl 
held  a  number  of  minor  ofifices.  In  1894  he  retired  from  active  life  Imt  re- 
tained his  actix'e  interest  in  the  Society  of  Friends  of  the  Salem  meeting. 
In  Januar}-,  1851,  he  was  joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Hannah  D.  Bassett, 
who  is  now  in  her  sixty-eighth  year.  Their  children  are  Anna  \'.,  who  was 
educated  in  the  Bristol  Boarding  School,  and  married  Jonathan  B.  Grier,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child,  Frank;  two  sons  were  born  to  them  and  named 
Frank,  one  dying  in  infancy  and  one  at  the  age  of  five  years;  another  child 
died  in  infancy;  and  the  fifth,  Collins  B.,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Collins  B.  Allen  recei\'ed  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  township  and  those  of  Salem.  Leaving  school  he  entered  upon  his 
career  as  an  agriculturist  and  has  followed  that  \ocation  since  with  the  great- 
est success.  He  was  appointed  an  officer  in  the  state  prison  at  Trenton,  New 
Jersey,  and  lived  there  while  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office,  but  again 
returned  to  his  farm  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  its  management.  This 
farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  good  land,  which  }ilr. 
Allen  has  kept  in  the  high  state  of  cultivation  in  which  it  had  been  placed  by 
his  father-in-law,  W'yatt  \\\  Miller.  He  conducts  this  work  on  a  business 
basis  and  has  reduced  it  to  a  science,  instead  of  doing  as  so  many  so-called 
farmers  who  follow  in  the  lieaten  paths  and  make  a  bare  living  by  their 
labors.  He  studied  the  diseases  and  care  of  stock  under  Dr.  Cooper,  and  is  a 
castrator  of  skill  who  does  a  good  deal  of  work  in  this  line  throughout  the 
southern  ])art  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Allen  was  married  February  3,  1892,  to  Miss  Hettie  M.  Miller,  a 
daughter  of  Wyatt  \\'istar  ]\Iiller,  whose  sketch  ajapears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  Three  bright  children  have  been  added  to  their  family  circle — Elsie 
M.,  born  (Jctober  22.  1893;  Mary  Griffin,  born  July  9,  1896,  and  Elizabeth 
Wistar,  born  February  10,  1899.  '^^''^  family  are  members  of  the  Hicksite 
branch  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  are  among  the  most  respected  and 
esteemed  citizens  of  the  count)-.  Mr.  .\.llen  is  a  Republican  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  the  political  situation  here.  He  is  the  district  clerk  of  the 
school  l)oard  of  Mannington  townsh.ip  and  as  such  has  charge  of  the  schools 
of  the  township.  He  is  also  acting  in  the  capacit}'  of  town  clerk  and  on  the 
executive  committee,  and  loses  no  opportunit}'.  dften  making  the  opjjortunity 


38  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

in  fact,  of  advancing-  the  interest  of  the  comity.  It  is  such  men  as  Mr. 
Allen  that  liave  l)ecn  a  power  in  the  past,  that  pushed  Salem  county  to  the 
front  in  the  connnercial  world  and  gave  her  the  standing  she  now  enjoys. 


GEORGE    W.    PRESSEY. 

America  has  taken  the  lead  among  the  nations  of  the  world  in  industrial 
inventions.  Her  agricultural  improvements,  machinery  and  mechanical  ap- 
pliances are  unequaled  in  any  land  and  her  inventors  have  simplified  labor, 
reduced  the  cost  of  production  and  largely  augmented  trade.  Mr.  Pressey. 
of  this  review,  is  one  who  has  produced  a  number  of  important  inventions 
which  have  jiroven  of  great  benefit  to  the  industrial  world  and  which  have 
brought  to  him  a  handsome  financial  return,  so  that  he  is  now  able  to  live  a 
retired  life.  He  makes  his  home  in  Hammonton,  where  he  is  both  widely 
and.  favorably  known. 

A  native  of  the  Pine  Tree  state,  Mr.  Pressey  was  born  in  Waterville, 
Maine,  September  27.  1825.  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Tabitha  (Wood- 
cock) Pressey,  who  also  are  natives  of  that  state  and  of  Irish  and  English 
descent.  The  maternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  was  a  cousin  of  Andrew 
Jackson.  George  W.  Pressey,  Sr.,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  followed 
that  pursuit  for  many  years,  but  later  became  a  railroad  employe.  He  was 
a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Baptist  church.  His  wife  held  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church.  This  worthy  couple  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  namely:  George  W.,  Henry  T.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Nebraska;  J.  Manley,  who  is  living  in  Salemville,  Ohio;  Elizabeth, 
Nancy  and  Ellen,  all  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Pressey,  of  this  review,  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  jjlace  of  his 
nativity  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  of  his  father  and  afterward  mastered  the  carriage-making 
trade.  He  then  began  business  on  his  own  account,  securing  a  good  patron- 
age in  that  line.  For  five  years  he  was  a  contractor  and  builder  of  roads  in 
his  native  town,  and  in  1848  he  began  his  inventive  work,  producing  a  car- 
riage spring  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law,  George  Farnham.  This 
was  called  the  Pressey  le\  er  carriage  spring  and  was  widely  adopted.  The 
inventors  retained  control  of  it,  placed  it  on  the  market,  and  it  had  a  large 
sale.  From  an  early  age  Mr.  Pressey  has  manifested  marked  mechanical 
genius  and  has  done  much  toward  the  improvement  of  machinery.  He  in- 
vented the  first  twisted  drill  used  in  drilling  iron  and  steel,  also  a  small  rotarv 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  39 

engine,  and  a  machine  for  the  paring  and  coring  of  apples,  which  came  into 
general  use. 

In  1863  he  removed  to  Hammonton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  established 
a  blacksmith  and  carriage-making  shop,  conducting  the  same  until  1873. 
In  1888  he  invented  the  pioneer  stump  extractor,  which  has  been  used 
throughout  the  United  States,  many  thousands  of  the  machines  being  sold. 
He  also  invented  a  lifting  jack,  and  a  folding  umbrella  which  will  telescope 
into  a  space  small  enough  to  go  into  a  man's  coat  pocket.  He  was  also  the 
inventor  of  the  American  Star  bicycle,  which  became  a  well-known  wheel 
and  was  the  original  front-steering  and  rear-driving  wheel,  his  patent  being 
granted  to  him  in  1888.  He  next  invented  a  brooder  for  raising  young 
chickens,  the  most  successful  invention  of  the  kind  that  has  ever  been  placed 
upon  the  market.  These  inventions  do  not  come  as  a  happy  inspiration  to 
men,  but  are  the  outcome  of  deep  thought  and  long-sustained  effort.  Though 
the  idea  may  be  new  to  the  inventor  it  is  the  result  of  careful  mental  prep- 
aration and  research  in  years  gone  by.  Added  to  this,  the  successful  in- 
ventor has  the  ability  to  judge  correctly  of  the  practical  utility  of  his  new 
ideas  and  the  mechanical  genius  to  execute  his  plans.  It  has  been  such 
qualities  that  have  won  Mr.  Pressey  prominence  among  the  mechanical  in- 
ventors of  the  land  and  gained  him  a  handsome  competence. 

Mr.  Pressey  has  been  twice  married.  In  1844  he  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Emerson,  who  died  in  1847,  leaving  two  children,  Eliza  A.,  now  the  widow 
of  George  Athern.  a  hotel  proprietor  of  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  and  Laura, 
who  is  now  deceased.  In  1849  ^Ii".  Pressey  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Harriet  Blackwell,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Anna,  who  is  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Hammonton;  Emma, 
a  professional  nurse  in  Philadelphia;  Bert,  a  dentist  of  Newport  News, 
Virginia,  and  Joan,  a  successful  dental  practitioner  of  Hampton,  Virginia. 

Mr.  Pressey  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his  community.  In  politics  he  is  inde- 
pendent, supporting  the  men  whom  he  thinks  best  calculated  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  the  ofifice  in  an  able  manner.  His  fellow  townsmen  recognize 
his  worth  and  have  called  him  to  ofifice,  and  his  course  has  demonstrated 
that  their  confidence  was  well  placed.  He  served  for  several  years  as  a  free- 
holder and  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  for  eight  years,  for  fifteen  years 
w-as  school  director,  and  is  now  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace.  No  man 
has  done  more  for  education  in  his  locality  than  he,  and  the  high  standard 
of  the  schools  at  the  present  time  is  largely  due  to  his  efforts.  For  twenty- 
five  years  he  has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  cemetery.  He  has  ever  been  a 
prompt  and  efficient  officer,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  shown  him- 


40  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

self  worthy  of  the  contidence  and  regard  of  his  fellow  men.  He  started  out 
in  his  business  career  without  capital,  but  by  determined  purpose  and  the 
careful  exercise  of  his  superior  faculties  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward and  is  now  accounted  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  his  adopted 
town. 


JAMES  MAC  FARLAND. 

The  beautiful  lioiue  and  tine  farm  opposite  the  railroad  station  at  Mon- 
roeville,  Salem  county,  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  places  in  this  locality. 
As  the  train  comes  to  a  halt  and  the  passenger  looks  from  the  window  and 
reiuarks  upon  the  village  and  upon  this  place  in  particular,  he  is  told  that 
it  is  the  home  of  James  MacFarland,  who  for  years  has  been  the  leading  man 
of  the  town. 

Mr.  MacFarland  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  February  i.  1839,  a  son  of 
William  MacFarland  and  a  grandson  of  Arthur  MacFarland.  the  latter  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland.  William  AlacFarland  was  born  in  1800  near  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  where  he  s])ent  his  early  days,  then  he  went  west  to  Ohio  and 
located  in  Dayton,  where  the  said  J.  MacFarland  was  born,  and  where  he 
made  his  home  for  se\eral  years,  at  the  end  of  that  time  returning  east  and 
taking  up  his  abode  near  Mullica  Hill,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey. 
Later  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Mantua  towmship.  that  county,  where  he  lived 
for  years,  dying  in  1872,  and  leaving  to  his  family  a  considerable  estate  and 
the  heritage  of  a  good  name.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Drucilla 
Tomlin.  was  a  daughter  of  James  Tomlin,  of  Mullica  Hill.  She  died  in  1882. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living  at  this  writ- 
ing,— four  sisters  and  one  brother,  William  MacFarland,  who  is  now  the 
principal  of  the  Bordentown  public  school,  and  has  been  for  the  past  four- 
teen years. 

James  MacFarland  was  \ery  small  when  his  jjarents  moved  to  Xew  Jer- 
sey, and  on  his  father's  farm  in  Gloucester  count}-  he  was  reared,  attending 
school  in  winter  and  in  working  on  the  farm  in  summer.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  entered  the  school-room  as  a  teacher,  and  for  three  years  taught 
at  Aura,  Gloucester  county,  and  one  year  in  Ocean  county.  He  then 
bought  a  farm  in  Ocean  county,  where  he  remained  for  two  years,  then  re- 
turned to  Aura,  Gloucester  county,  where  he  also  remained  two  years,  teach- 
ing school  in  the  winter  season  and  farming  in  the  summer.  In  1865  he 
moved  to  Monroeville.  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  When  he  first  set- 
tled here  Mr.  MacFarland  was  the  railroad  agent  for  se\eral  years,  and  for 
twenty-four  years  he  ke])t  a  general  store,  ha\ing  charge  of  it  until  1889. 


_yames  9^ac^arland 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  41 

when  he  retired  from  the  business.  During  his  early  life  here  he  frequently 
made  trips  to  the  west,  where  he  purchased  cattle  in  carload  lots — five  or  six 
hundred  head  in  a  year — bringing  them  back  with  him  and  selling  them  to 
the  people  throughout  this  part  of  the  country  for  stock  cattle.  Later  he 
brought  from  the  west  horses  instead  of  cattle.  Probably  he  has  sold  more 
horses  in  southern  New  Jersey  than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  He  is 
now  buying  cattle  in  carloads  from  the  west  and  running  a  large  slaughter 
house,  selling  meats  in  Atlantic  City  and  all  other  towns  of  south  New  Jer- 
sey. His  present  farm,  composed  really  of  three  different  farms  which  he 
purchased  at  various  times  as  they  came  on  the  market,  are  now  all  shaped 
in  one,  and  embraces  two  hundred  acres  of  well  kept  and  highly  cultivated 
land,  and  its  improvements,  including  the  residence  and  barn,  are  among  the 
best  in  the  locality.  It  is  due  to  Mr.  MacFarland  that  the  beautiful  village 
of  Monroeville  has  been  transformed  from  a  very  low  condition  to  one  of 
enterprise  and  thrift.  He  has  ever  given  his  time  faithfully  to  his  business. 
being  always  interested  in  many  lines. 

In  addition  to  supervising  his  numerous  extensive  interests,  Mr.  Mac- 
Farland has  from  time  to  time  filled  various  township  ofifices,  and  has  always 
shown  himself  to  be  a  public-spirited  man,  ready  to  give  his  support  to 
whatever  tended  to  advance  the  welfare  of  Monroeville  and  vicinity.  He  has 
long  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
for  years  has  served  as  a  trustee  and  steward  of  his  church  at  Monroeville. 

April  17,  1861,  Mr.  MacFarland  married  Miss  Maggie  Seavers,  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Seavers,  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey:  and  of  the  six  children  born 
to  them  five  are  now  living,  namely:  Randolph,  who  runs  a  store,  creamery 
and  ice  plant  at  Monroeville,  in  a  measure  the  successor  to  his  father  in  the 
business;  William,  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  who  is  a  leading  dealer  in  fancy 
horses  in  Philadelphia,  at  the  Palace  Exchange,  corner  of  Broad  and  Cherry 
streets;  Eugene,  who  operates  a  large  wholesale  slaughter  house  at  Monroe- 
ville for  his  father:  Leo,  a  lawyer  of  No.  1438  South  Pennsylvania  square. 
Philadelphia:  and  J.  Earl,  at  home  with  his  parents,  is  an  agent  for  agricul- 
tural implements. 


W.    C.    KEAN. 


\\'.  C.  Kean,  of  Camden,  Camden  count}-,  Xew  Jersey,  was  born  at 
Kean's  Mills,  Salem  county,  on  March  4,  1835,  and  is  as  well  known  and 
popular  in  that  county  as  the  one  in  which  he  lives,  both  of  which  has  been 
the  scene  of  his  industry  and  benevolence.  His  father,  Samuel  Kean,  was  at 
one  time  a  storekeeper  at  Mullica  Hill. 


42  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

Mr.  Kean  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  then  thoroughly 
learned  the  trade  of  masonry  and  building,  acquiring  a  proficiency  in  his 
work  that  has  caused  him  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  workmen  in  this 
part  of  New  Jersey.  He  did  a  great  deal  of  work  at  Salem  county  and 
Bridgton  and  had  a  large  force  of  men  working  for  him.  erecting  many  pub- 
lic and  private  buildings.  The  first  Methodist  church  at  Elmer  is  a  monu- 
ment to  his  skill,  as  are  a  number  of  other  buildings  in  that  village.  He 
moved  to  this  city  in  1877  and  has  erected  many  residences  here,  his  services 
being  in  constant  demand.  He  was  given  charge  of  the  building  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has  put  up  an  edifice  that  would  be  a  credit 
to  any  locality — a  magnificent  building.  The  basement  of  the  Bethany 
Methodist  church  was  constructed  by  him  and  the  work  donated  to  the  or- 
ganization, which  is  but  one  of  many  acts  of  liberality  for  which  he  is  noted. 

Mr.  Kean  is  a  man  of  earnest  Christian  character,  respected  and  honored 
alike  by  all  classes.  He  has  for  years  been  an  active  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  being  treasurer  of  the  Broadway  organization  for 
years,  and  also  trustee  and  class  leader.  Later  he  transferred  his  member- 
ship to  the  First  church,  in  which  he  is  trustee.  He  was  married  in  1861  to 
Miss  Mary  J.  Hitchner.  daughter  of  David  Hitchner,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
this  place.  They  have  had  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  Hattie 
Lenora,  who  is  now  studying  abroad.  ^Ir.  Kean  and  his  family  have  trav- 
eled extensively  over  the  United  States,  Canada,  Xova  Scotia  and  British 
Columbia  and  are  people  of  excellent  taste  and  refinement.  He  is  a  man  of 
considerable  means  and  is  doing  much  good,  preferring  to  see  the  fruits  of 
his  well-directed  benevolence  and  receiving  his  reward  in  the  pure  enjoy- 
ment of  a  good  deed  well  done. 


RICHARD    T.    BECKETT. 

Richard  T.  Beckett,  the  obliging  postmaster  of  Clayton.  New  Jersey,  and 
the  capable  superintendent  of  Moore  Brothers'  Glass  Works,  is  a  native  of 
Glassboro,  born  March  6,  1838.  His  father,  William  F.  Beckett,  was  also  a 
native  of  Glassboro,  and  his  father,  Johnson  Beckett,  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  this  city.  The  family  came  from  England  before  the  Revolution 
and  settled  in  this  county.  Johnson  Beckett  was  one  of  Glassboro's  leading 
business  men,  and  by  almost  every  one  was  known  as  "Uncle  Johnson." 
William  F.,  his  son  and  our  subject's  father,  was  a  glassblower  by  trade  and 
made  melting-pots  for  the  Whitney  Glass  Works.  He  died  in  1852.  He 
was  a  gentleman  possessed  of  much  intelligence  and  admired  by  all.    In  pub- 


C0XGRESSI0A\4L    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  43 

lie  affairs  he  was  very  active,  serving  the  people  as  collector,  assessor  and  in 
other  town  and  city  positions.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge, 
and  also  belonged  to  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  His  was  one  of  those  genial, 
sunny  natures  that  always  make  a  legion  of  friends.  For  his  life  companion 
he  chose  Susan,  the  daughter  of  Jonathan  Duffield  of  Scotland.  Her  mother 
died  in  1888.  Of  their  seven  oft'spring.  six  still  live:  x\manda,  wife  of  John 
Daniels:  Eliza  K..  Mrs.  Samuel  Luffbary;  Richard  T.,  our  subject;  Hiram, 
of  Clayton:  William  H.,  the  general  manager  of  the  glass  works  at  Wood- 
bury, and  Samuel  D..  the  manager  of  the  Fairton  Glass  Works,  at  Fairton, 
this  state. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  after  accjuiring  a  common  school  education, 
our  subject  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
began  contracting,  at  Clayton,  moving  to  that  place  in  1861.  He  con- 
tinued there  until  1872,  when  he  quit  carpentering.  He  moved  to  Cumber- 
land county.  New  Jersey,  and  remained  there  nine  years,  superintending  the 
clearing  of  a  large  timber  tract,  on  which  he  built  mills,  cut  the  trees  into 
lumber  and  developed  a  splendid  farm.  From  that  point  he  removed  to 
Florence.  New  Jersey,  and  lived  five  years  with  R.  D.  Woods,  conducting 
a  store  in  which  he  had  an  interest.  In  1894  our  subject,  who  was  always  a 
very  progressive,  thoughtful  man.  invented  a  glass-blowing  machine.  In 
1894  he  made  his  home  in  Clayton  and  took  his  present  position. 

Being  a  Republican  in  politics,  very  naturally  he  was  made  postmaster 
under  IMcKinley.  in  1897.  commencing  July  i.  He  is  an  attendant  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Clayton,  and  belongs  to  the  United  Workmen  lodge 
No.  4  of  Camden.  In  the  month  of  September.  1859,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  E.,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Brick,  of  Burlington 
county,  New  Jersey.  It  was  her  brother,  William  Brick,  who  founded  Lake- 
wood,  New  Jersey.  Six  children  bless  the  union;  Bertrand  O.,  superintendent 
of  the  glass  works  at  Millville;  Firman,  of  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado;  Charles, 
of  Point  Pleasant,  New  Jersey:  Rosamond  B.,  w-idow  of  Richard  Marley, 
who  is  the  assistant  postmaster  of  Clayton,  and  Jennie  S.  and  Annie  E.,  still 
at  home. 


ISAAC    M.    DOWNS.    M.    D. 

The  record  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  southern  New  Jersey  would  be  in- 
complete were  there  failure  to  make  specific  reference  to  Dr.  Downs,  who 
has  attained  a  position  of  precedence  and  distinction  in  the  medical  profes- 
sion, while  the  public  accord  to  him  a  liberal  and  well-merited  patronage. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey,  on  the  5th  of  December, 


44  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

1842,  and  is  a  son  of  James  M.  and  Sarah  (Sooy)  Downs.  His  ancestors  for 
several  generations  resided  on  Long  Island.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Isaac 
Downs,  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Tuckerton  and  there  his  death 
occurred.  He  was  a  mason  h}-  trade  and  ft)llowed  that  uccu])ation  as  a 
source  of  livelihood.  His  political  supjjort  was  given  the  Democracy  and  in 
religious  helief  he  was  a  Methodist.  He  married  Ann  Stiles,  and  they  he- 
came  the  parents  of  eight  children:  James  M.;  Samuel;  Charles:  \^'illiam; 
-Ann,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Hand:  Susan,  who  also  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Hand, 
after  the  death  of  her  sister:  Isaac  Jackson:  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Rev.  Xoah 
Edwards.  The  father  of  these  children  died  at  the  age  of  si.xty  years.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  the  Doctor  was  Yoos  Sooy.  who  was  a  native  of 
Holland,  whence  he  emigrated  to  the  New  World,  taking  uj)  his  residence 
on  the  lower  hank  of  Mullica  river,  in  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey.  He 
there  reared  his  children  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  community.  He  had  a  coat-of-arms,  consisting  of  two  uplifted  arms, 
and  this  was  engraved  upon  his  monument.  He  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  charcoal  and  dealt  in  wood,  his  business  interests  being  carefully  con- 
ducted. 

James  M.  Downs,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  born  in  Tuckerton,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  was  educated  in  the  high  school  of  Philadelphia,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  teaching.  He  followed  that  profession  for  a  number  of  years,  be- 
ing at  one  time  connected  with  the  educational  interests  of  his  native  town. 
In  his  ]5olitical  atTtiliations  he  was  a  Democrat,  exercising  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  supjicjrt  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  party.  He  held  a  member- 
ship with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  was  interested  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  social,  material,  intellectual  and  moral  benefit  of  the  com- 
munity. He  married  Sarah  Sooy  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  William:  James;  Herbert:  Cordelia,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Lane;  and  Susan,  the  wife  of  D.  Van  Zant.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty-two  years,  and  the  mother  passed  away  w  hen  fifty-one  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Downs  pursued  his  literary  education  in  the  schools  of  Tuckerton. 
and,  with  a  good  general  knowdedge  to  serve  as  a  foundation  u])on  which  to 
rest  the  superstructure  of  professional  learning,  he  entered  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  in  which  he  was  graduated.  He  then  opened  an  office  in 
Cape  May  Court  House,  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  a  close  student 
of  his  profession  and  keeps  well  abreast  with  all  the  discoveries  that  are  made 
concerning  the  treatment  of  diseases  and  the  use  of  various  drugs.  His 
knowledge  is  comprehensive  and  exact,  and  his  skill  and  ability  are  mani- 
fest in  the  liberal  patronage  which  is  accorded  him  by  the  ]niblic.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Cape  May  County  .Medical  Society,  and  has  been  a  frequent 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEir   JERSEY.  45 

contributor  to  the  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter,  his  articles  l)eing  of  much 
value.  In  addition  to  his  practice  he  owns  and  conducts  a  drug  store,  and 
in  both  branches  of  his  business  is  meeting  with  gratifying  success. 

In  1872  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Dr,  Downs  and  Miss  Elmira  W'ill- 
iamson,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Moses  Williamson,  for  many  years  the  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Cold  Springs,  Both  the  Doctor  and  his 
wife  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  locality  and  the  hospitality  of 
the  best  homes  is  extended  them,  while  their  own  pleasant  residence  is 
noted  for  its  good  cheer.  The  Doctor  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  board 
ef  health,  and  during  the  civil  war  he  served  for  one  year  as  acting  assistant 
surgeon,  in  Washington,  D,  C,  He  was  also  president  of  the  old  Building  & 
Loan  Association,  which  has  since  disbanded.  Socially  he  is  a  representative 
of  both  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  fraternities,  and  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  is  an  active  and  zealous  member.  He  is  a  trustee  and 
steward  of  the  church  and  the  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
and  is  actively  associated  with  the  work  that  tends  to  promote  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  the  organization.  His  upright,  honorable  career  com- 
mends him  to  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all,  and  Cape  May  Court 
House  numbers  him  among  its  most  valued  and  respected  citizens. 


ALB.    AUG.    KOCH. 


When  prosperity  comes  to  a  man  as  the  result  of  industry  and  business 
enterprise  too  much  cannot  be  said  in  his  praise,  for  in  this  country  intrinsic 
worth  and  ability  are  the  measures  of  merit.  Albert  A.  Koch,  of  Mantua, 
Gloucester  county,  has  inherited  from  a  long  line  of  industrious,  upright 
German  ancestors  the  sterling  qualities  which  have  brought  him  rapidly  to 
the  front  among  the  well-to-do  business  men  of  this  locality. 

One  of  his  ancestors  was,  at  one  time,  the  mayor  of  Dantzig,  Germany, 
and  was  very  prominent  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  that  city.  He  was  the 
owner  of  large  tracts  of  valuable  land  and  dealt  extensively  in  real  estate. 
Frederick  Koch,  the  father  of  our  subject,  learned  the  trade  of  a  baker,  and 
some  of  his  uncles  were  men  of  influence,  holding  high  positions, 

Albert  A.  Koch  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Goettingen,  province  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  his  birth  having  occurred  there  May  21,  1863.  He  gained  a  com- 
mon school  education  and  when  he  arrived  at  a  suitable  age  he  learned  the 
baker's  trade.  It  was  in  1883 — nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago — that  he 
landed  on  the  shores  of  the  New  World,  thenceforth  to  be  his  home.  For 
several  vears  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  New  York  City,  and  finally,  in  1893, 


46  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

he  decided  to  embark  in  Ijusiness  upon  his  own  account.  Having  looked  at 
various  places,  with  a  view  to  locating  a  bakery,  he  started  one  at  Camden. 
New  Jersey,  but  about  a  year  later  he  came  to  Mantua,  and  within  the  five 
years  which  have  elapsed  he  has  built  up  a  trade  which  is  really  remarkable. 
For  the  first  year  he  did  all  his  own  work,  i)ut  rapidly  the  business  increased 
until  at  the  present  time  he  employs  eleven  men  and  runs  five  delivery 
wagons,  for  which  nine  horses  are  required.  He  sends  his  w'agons  into  the 
surroundingcountry.and  for  twenty-five  miles  in  each  direction  from  Mantua 
customers  are  supplied  with  the  fresh,  wholesome  bread  and  cakes  which  are 
made  here.  From  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred  loaves  of  bread  are  made  each 
day  and  forty  barrels  of  flour  are  required.  Recently  Mr.  Koch  has  opened 
branch  stores  at  Paulsboro  and  Woodbury,  and,  judging  from  what  he  has 
accomplished  within  the  past  few  years,  he  will  he  in  command  of  a  goodly 
fortune  ere  he  has  reached  the  prime  of  life. 

Fraternally  he  ranks  well,  being  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Red  Men,  in  the  last  mentioned  holding  an  of- 
ficial position  at  this  writing.  On  the  30th  of  May,  1890,  the  marriage  of 
Mr,  Koch  and  ^liss  Martha  Neimke  was  celebrated  in  Philadelphia.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Heinrich  Neimke,  and,  like  her  husband,  is  a  native  of  Han- 
over, Germany.  They  have  two  children  living,  Robert  and  Martha.  Mrs. 
Koch  aids  her  husband  materially  in  his  business  undertakings  and  both 
enjoy  the  respect  of  the  entire  community. 


WILLIAM  M.  OGDEN. 


William  M.  Ogden,  of  Mickleton,  was  born  at  Port  Elizabeth,  April  6, 
1838.  and  is  descended  from  an  old  Pennsylvania  family,  his  ancestors  having 
come  from  England  with  William  Penn  in  the  good  ship  \Velcome,  in  1682. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  Samuel  Ogden,  who  was  born  at  Woodston 
and  was  a  surveyor  and  conveyancer.  He  also  conducted  a  store  in  Port 
Elizabeth  for  some  years  and  there  died  in  1862.  He  was  very  successful 
in  his  business  deahngs,  and  through  his  well  directed  energies  gained  a 
very  desirable  competence.  He  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  his 
upright  life  won  him  the  confidence  and  well  wishes  of  all  who  knew  him. 
He  married  Sarah  Mickle.  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Mickle,  and  the  town  in 
which  our  subject  now  resides  was  named  in  honor  of  his  maternal  grand- 
father. ^Irs.  Ogden  died  about  1867,  leaving  two  children,  but  William  M. 
is  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  family.  His  brother.  Samuel  M.  Ogden. 
who  was  engaged  in  business  in  Mickleton  for  forty  years,  was  widely  and 


/rdta.^   J}1     (P^  ulu^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  47 

favorably  known  throughout  the  community.  He  managed  his  affairs  with 
rare  abiHty  and  discrimination,  displayed  unfaltering  industry  and  persever- 
ance, and  as  the  result  of  his  labors  acquired  a  handsome  property,  leaving 
a  good  estate  at  his  death.  His  deaHngs  were  characterized  by  the  strictest 
integrity  and  won  him  the  unqualified  trust  of  the  public. 

William  M.  Ogden  pursued  his  education  in  the  public  schools  near  his 
home,  and  on  putting  aside  his  textbooks  took  upon  himself  the  practical 
duties  of  the  farm  with  which  he  had  become  familiar  in  his  boyhood,  having 
assisted  in  the  care  and  cultivation  of  his  father's  farm.  He  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1887,  when  he  joined  his  brother  in  business  in 
Mickleton.  This  relation  was  maintained  until  the  brother's  death,  and  was 
mutually  pleasant  and  profitable.  Their  store  was  well  stocked  with  a 
general  line  of  goods,  and  their  courteous  treatment  of  their  patrons,  their 
earnest  desire  to  please  and  their  honorable  dealings  won  to  them  a  large 
trade.  Since  the  death  of  his  brother  William  M.  Ogden  has  been  the  sole 
proprietor,  and  in  addition  to  merchandising  he  is  serving  as  the  postmaster 
of  Mickleton,  discharging  his  duties  in  a  manner  that  has  won  him  the 
uniform  commendation  of  the  public. 

In  1861  he  married  Miss  Bessie  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Edward  Clark,  of 
Swedesboro,  and  they  have  three  children:  Edward  C,  who  is  living  in 
Mickleton;  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Clayton  Thompson,  a  resident  of  this  locality; 
and  Anna  Vanneman,  who  was  born  October  25,  1869,  and  died  January 
22,  1889.  She  had  a  sweet,  amiable  and  retiring  disposition  and  was  greatly 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  Her  early  death  was  much  deplored  by  her 
school  friends,  who  paid  loving  tributes  to  her  memory.  She  met  death 
calmly,  and  to  all  about  her  whispered  words  of  hope  and  consolation.  Mr. 
Ogden  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  are  people 
of  the  highest  respectability,  having  the  warm  regard  of  all  who  know  them. 


■      CHARLES    F.    PANCOAST. 

Charles  F.  I'ancoast,  the  son  of  David  C.  and  Ann  H.  Pancoast,  was  born 
near  Woodstown,  in  Piles  Grove  township,  Salem  county,  March  8.  1844. 
His  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side,  Joseph  L.  Davis,  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Piles  Grove  township.  David  C.  Pancoast,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  also  took  much  interest  in  local  public 
affairs,  and  for  a  number  of  years  sat  at  the  head  of  the  Friends'  meeting 
at  Woodstown. 

Charles  F.  Pancoast,  since  he  became  twenty  years  of  age,  has  been  en- 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP   THE   PIRST 

gaged  in  mercantile  business  almost  continuously,  retiring  in  1898  from  the 
tirm  of  Pancoast  &  Lippincott.  after  eighteen  years  of  partnership  with  John 
W.  Lippincott  in  the  hardware  and  store  business  in  Woodstown.  Of  late 
years  he  has  taken  quite  an  interest  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  of  which  he  is 
a  meml^er.  the  Piles  Grove  Library  Association,  and  the  affairs  of  the  bor- 
ough of  Woodstown.  of  which  he  was  elected  a  councilman  in  the  spring  of 
1899.  In  1882  he  married  Annie  E.  Borton,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Edwards)  Borton.  and  they  have  two  sons — Joseph  L.  Davis  Pan- 
coast  ami  Charles  Fithian  Pancoast,  Jr. 


HENRY    C.    BENDLER. 

One  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  Mantua.  Gloucester  county. 
Henrv  C.  Bendler  is  a  citizen  of  public  spirit,  wide  awake  and  filled  with  en- 
thusiasm and  desire  to  have  his  home  town  stand  in  the  front  ranks  with 
those  of  its  size  in  the  state.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  of^ciate  in  numer- 
ous local  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  as  his  fellow  citizens  appreciate  his 
ability  and  integrity,  and  recognize  the  fact  that  he  has  the  welfare  of  this 
community  deeply  at  heart. 

Jacob  S..  a  son  of  Adam  and  the  father  of  Henry  C.  Bendler.  was  of  Ger- 
man descent.  He  was  l^orn  in  Magnolia  (then  known  as  Greenland).  New 
Jersey,  and  about  1844  went  to  Glassboro.  where  he  conducted  a  store.  In 
1847  he  removed  to  Chew's  Landing.  Camden  county,  where  he  found  eiu- 
ployment  as  a  ship  carpenter,  and  during  his  residence  at  that  place  and  in 
Mantua  he  assisted  in  the  building  of  a  number  of  vessels.  Eor  thirty  years 
he  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  township,  whither  he  came  in  1857. 
and  for  several  years  he  was  the  assessor  here.  His  life  was  above  reproach, 
as  he  was  honest  and  temperate,  industrious  and  loyal  to  his  God  and  coun- 
try. In  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Masonic  orders  he  occupied  an  honored  posi- 
tion and  held  about  all  of  the  ot¥ices  in  the  local  lodges  at  various  times. 
Though  he  was  eighty-four  years  old  when  the  summons  came  to  him.  to  lay 
down  his  earthly  burdens,  he  was  then  in  the  possession  of  all  of  his  senses 
and  was  greatlv  esteemed  b\-  every  one.  He  married  Susan  W'oilohon. 
flaughter  of  Joseph  W'oilohon,  and  two  children  were  born  to  tliem.  She 
departed  this  life  in  1846. 

Henry  C.  Bendler.  whose  birth  occurred  at  Chew's  Landing,  Camden 
countv.  September  25,  1842,  was  thus  left  motherless  when  he  was  only  four 
vears  old.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  after  completing 
his  studies  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  several 


COA'GRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   A'£/f'   JERSEY.  49 

years.  In  time  he  acquired  a  little  property  at  Sewell.  and  this  he  exchanged 
for  a  farm  between  Mantua  and  Barnsboro,  in  1885.  Since  then  he  has  lived 
in  this  locality  and  has  been  the  proprietor  of  a  general  store  at  Mantua. 
Active  in  politics,  he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party.  In  1893 
he  was  appointed  a  freeholder,  to  serve  out  a  term;  again  in  1897  he  was 
chosen  for  this  important  office:  and  in  March,  1900.  elected  again,  for  three 
years  more. 

In  1 861  Mr.  Bendler  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Kitchen, 
a  daughter  of  John  M.  Kitchen,  of  Mantua,  and  the  only  child  born  to  this 
union  has  passed  to  the  better  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bendler  are  loved  and  re- 
spected by  every  one  who  knows  them,  and  their  pleasant  home  frequently 
is  the  scene  of  happy  gatherings  of  friends  and  neighbors. 


JOHN    WALLACE. 

An  errand  boy  in  a  glass  factory,  a  capitalist  and  progressive  merchant — 
in  these  few  words  are  summed  up  the  life  history  of  John  Wallace,  who  has 
risen  from  a  very  humble  position  in  life  to  a  place  of  prominence  and  afflu- 
ence. The  opportunities  of  the  present  are  the  only  ones  which  we  can 
grasp  and  utilize,  the  promises  of  the  future  are  illusi\'e  and  not  to  be  de- 
pended upon,  but  the  improvement  of  the  advantages  of  the  moment  brings 
sure  and  certain  results.  It  was  the  ability  of  Mr.  Wallace  to  understand 
what  the  present  ofTered  and  to  make  the  best  possible  use  of  his  opportuni- 
ties that  has  made  him  one  of  the  substantial  citizens. 

He  was  bom  at  Port  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  May  i,  1828,  and  is  the 
son  of.  John  and  Jane  (McKeag)  Wallace.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Dub- 
lin, Ireland,  born  in  1729,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  came  to  America. 
He  was  a  weaver  by  trade  and  ultimately  took  up  his  residence  in  Marshall- 
ville,  New  Jersey,  where  he  engaged  in  weaving  carpets  and  linsey-woolsev. 
He  also  owned  a  small  farm  there.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  ami  in 
religious  belief  was  a  Methodist,  holding  membership  in  the  church  of  this 
denomination.  His  children  were  as  follows:  William,  born  at  Port  Eliza- 
beth in  December,  1823,  was  a  glass-blower  by  trade,  following  that  pursuit 
in  Millville.  He  married  Miss  Emeline  Steelman,  and  their  children  were: 
William,  who  married  Lena  Crowley;  Harry,  John,  \\''illiam,  Harvey,  Mabel, 
Emeline  and  Bessie.  Edward,  who  married  Mary  Abel,  was  engaged  in  the 
express  business,  and  their  children  were  W'alter,  Eddie,  Chrissy  and  Ed- 
ward. Mary  Jane  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Meyers,  a  glass-worker  and 
local  Methodist  preacher,  by  whom  she  had  seven  children — Emma,  Kate, 
Ann,   Bertha,   Charles,  William   and  Jennie.      Emma   became   the   wife   of 


50  BIOCRAPIIfCAL   HISrOKV   OF   THE   FIRST 

Charles  Simmons,  an  undertaker  of  Milhille.  and  their  chihh'en  were  Will- 
iam. Myrtle,  Harrison  and  Clara.  Anna  married  Thomas  Mattox,  a  mer- 
chant, by  whom  she  had  eight  cliildren:  Emma,  Jessie,  Charles,  Lizzie,  Ed- 
waril,  Mary,  .\lida  and  Helen.  John  was  the  next  of  the  fainily.  Thomas, 
born  in  July,  1826.  at  Port  Elizabeth,  became  a  glass-blower  and  resided  at 
Marshallville.  but  died  at  West  Creek,  New  Jersey.  He  married  Sarah  Jane 
McKeag,  and  their  children  were  James,  Eddie,  John,  Flora  and  George. 
John  Wallace,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

Mr.  Wallace,  of  this  review,  had  no  educational  advantages,  for  at  the 
age  of  eight  years  he  became  an  employe  in  the  Marshall  Glass  Factory, 
where  his  close  application  to  business  and  his  faithfulness  in  the  duties  en- 
trusted to  him  won  him  ])romotion  from  time  to  time  until  he  became  a 
glass-blower  and  eventually  a  glass-cutter.  For  two  years  he  sen'ed  in  that 
capacity  at  Hamilton,  New  Jersey,  after  which  he  went  to  Ottawa,  Canada, 
ami  a  year  later  he  accepted  a  position  as  glass-blower  in  Columbia,  New- 
Jersey.  Subsequently  he  was  at  Hamilton  and  in  1852  he  became  connected 
with  the  Union  Window-glass  Company,  at  Marshallville,  lieing  a  partner 
in  that  concern.  For  a  iieriod  of  four  years  he  acted  as  foreman  for  the  firm 
of  Richard  &  Brothers.  Subsequentl\-  he  embarked  in  the  charcoal  ami 
lumber  business,  which  he  continued  for  twenty  \ears.  being  associated  with 
John  R.  Belbe  for  fifteen  years.  They  carried  on  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able business,  furnishing  employment  for  thirty  men.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
W^allace  has  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and  in  merchandising.  He 
successfully  operates  a  number  of  sawmills  and  in  his  store  receives  a  liberal 
and  well  merited  patronage  from  the  public.  He  deals  extensively  in  real 
estate  and  is  the  owner  of  two  thousand  acres  of  cedar-swamp  timber  and 
farm  lands.  He  has  three  valuable  farms  and  is  also  the  owner  of  fifteen  acres 
of  cranberry  marshes.  He  owns  lots  at  Atlantic  City,  Ocean  City.  Holly 
Beach,  and  Cape  May  Point,  and  his  investments  have  been  so  judiciously 
made  that  he  has  secured  from  them  handsome  financial  returns. 

On  the  30th  of  March.  1S50.  Mr.  Wallace  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  Jane  Getsinger,  a  daughter  of  Christopher  Getsinger,  the  proprietor 
of  the  Port  Elizabeth  CJlass  Works.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wallace  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  has  cajiably  and  efficiently  served  as  assessor,  col- 
lector and  freeholder.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  as 
a  citizen  is  deeply  interested  in  e\ery thing  pertaining  to  the  welfare  and 
progress  of  the  community.  He  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess in  life,  and  his  record  stands  in  exemplification  of  the  fact  that  jiros- 
perity  is  the  outcome  of  honest  and  continued  labor. 


■CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OT   NIIW   JERSEY.  51 

LAWRENXIC    W.    SICKLRR. 

Practical  industry  wisely  and  \'iq;oroiislv  apjilied  never  fails  of  success; 
it  carries  a  man  onward  and  upward,  hringinjT  out  his  individual  character 
and  acts  as  a  powerful  stimulant  to  the  efforts  of  others.  The  greatest  re- 
sults in  life  are  usually  attained  by  sim])le  means  and  the  exercise  of  the 
ordinary  qualities  of  common  sense  and  perseverance.  The  every-day  life, 
with  its  cares,  necessities  and  duties,  aiifords  ample  opportunities  for  acquir- 
ing experience  of  the  l^est  kind,  and  its  most  1:)eaten  paths  pro\'ide  abundant 
scope  for  efifort  and  self-improvement.  Along  the  legitimate  channels  of 
trade  and  in  the  ordinary  walks  of  business  Lawrence  W.  Sickler  has  attained 
success,  prominence  and  the  high  regard  of  his  fellow  men.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing as  the  postmaster  of  Glassboro  and  is  acti\ely  identifierl  with  some  of 
the  leading  business  interests  of  the  town. 

A  native  of  Williamsboro,  Gloucester  county,  his  birth  occurred  Decem- 
ber 23,  i860.  His  father,  Paul  H.  Sickler,  and  his  grandfather,  William 
Sickler,  were  also  natives  of  that  place,  and  were  of  Dutch  lineage.  They 
were  engaged  in  the  coal  business  and  manufactured  and  dealt  in  charcoal. 
Paul  H.  Sickler  was  also  a  farmer,  later  became  a  glass-blower  and  was  after- 
ward proprietor  of  a  store  in  Sicklerville.  where  he  also  served  as  postmaster 
for  many  years.  He  thus  led  a  very  active  and  useful  life: nor  were  his  efforts 
confined  alone  to  interests  that  resulterl  in  his  o\\  n  benefit.  He  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace  for  a  number  of  }ears  and  was  a  most  fair  and  imjjartial  officer. 
A  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  he  served  as  a 
local  preacher  and  exerted  a  strong  influence  for  good  in  the  community  in 
which  he  resided.  He  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and 
after  a  long  and  honorable  life  was  called  to  his  reward  in  1895.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah  Eldredge  and  is  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  old  families  of  Gloucester  county.  She  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five  years,  and  she  has  a  brother  who  has  passed  the  ninetieth 
milestone  in  life's  journey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sickler  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Patience,  wife  of  John  T.  Sickler.  of 
Glassboro:  Amy,  wife  of  Henry  D.  Harf.  of  Sicklerville:  Parnell.  wife  of  S. 
P.  De  Hart,  of  Williamstown;  Paul  .S..  jiostmaster  and  merchant  at  Sickler- 
ville; and  Lawrence  W. 

The  last  named  attended  the  common  schools  of  Sicklerxillc  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  left  home  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  serving  a  five- 
years  apprenticeship.  In  1883  he  came  to  Glassboro,  where  he  opened  a 
smithy  of  his  own,  successfully  conducting  the  same  until  1894,  since  which 
time  he  has  also  engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business.     At  that  time  he 


52  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  01=   THE  FIRST 

l)Ui"cliased  a  mill,  which  he  operated  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  and  feed. 
In  adilition  to  his  sales  in  those  commodities  he  deals  in  farming  implements 
and  fertilizers,  and  recently  he  has  embarked  in  the  coal  and  ice  business. 
On  ^lay  i,  1900,  Mr.  Sickler  took  the  general  management  of  the  yards  of 
the  Whitney  Glass  Works.  These  varied  interests  claim  his  attention,  and 
are  conducted  with  marked  ability,  bringing  him  a  very  desirable  experience. 

]\lr.  Sickler  has  also  been  in  the  public  service  and  has  been  a  most  loyal 
and  efficient  ofificer.  In  1896  he  was  appointed  collector  of  Glassboro  town- 
ship and  in  1897  was  elected  to  that  office  for  a  three-years  term.  _On  the 
1st  of  April,  1899,  he  was  appointed  the  postmaster  of  Glassboro  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  and  his  administration  of  the  ofifice  has  w'on  him  high  com- 
mendation. In  his  political  views  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican 
and  has  labored  earnestly  for  the  advancement  of  his  party.  In  1896  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  RepubHcan  executive  committee  of  Glou- 
cester county. 

His  home  life  has  been  very  pleasant.  He  was  married  on  the  4th  of 
August,  1889,  to  Miss  Francena,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Proud,  of  Akline, 
Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sickler  are  widely  known  in 
this  locality  and  their  circle  of  friends  is  almost  coextensive  with  the  circle 
of  their  accjuaintances.  His  life  proves  that  activity,  when  directed  by  sound 
judgment,  is  the  key  which  unlocks  the  portals  of  success  and  his  pros- 
perity is  the  fitting  result  of  his  labors. 


W.  K.  ROBERSON. 


In  this  enlightened  age  when  men  of  energy,  industry  and  merit  are 
rapidly  pushing  their  way  to  the  front,  those  who  by  their  own  individual 
efforts  have  won  favor  and  fortune  may  properly  claim  recognition.  Such 
a  one  is  Mr.  Roberson,  who  is  an  active  factor  in  the  commercial  life  of 
Philadelphia.  He  is  numbered  among  the  wholesale  merchants  of  that  city 
and  occupies  a  prominent  place  as  an  energetic,  progressive,  capable  and 
thoroughly  reliable  business  man.  Mr.  Roberson,  now  a  resident  of  W^ood- 
bury,  was  bom  in  Hunterdon  county.  New  Jersey,  January  21,  1851.  His 
grandfather  was  \\'illiam  Roberson,  but  little  is  known  concerning  the  early 
history  of  the  family.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Samuel  Roberson,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  throughout  his  active  business  career  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  King,  the  daughter 
of  William  X.  King  and  a  representative  of  an  old  family  of  Hunterdon 
county.    They  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living. 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  53 

namely:  Delia,  the  wife  of  George  B.  Dalyrimple,  who  resides  on  the  old 
homestead;  A.  E..  of  Pittstown,  New  Jersey;  W.  K..  of  this  review^;  Horace, 
a  lawyer  of  Bayonne,  New  Jersey;  and  S.  A.,  who  is  a  leading  educator  in 
Bayonne.  The  father  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Whig  party  in  early 
life,  and  on  its  dissolution  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
held  membership  in  the  Baptist  church  and  died  in  that  faith  in  1897.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  the  same  year. 

During  the  winter  months  \V.  K.  Roberson  attended  the  public  schools 
through  the  period  of  his  youth  and  in  the  summer  season  assisted  in  the 
labors  of  field  and  meadow.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  home  to  enter 
upon  a  mercantile  career,  securing  a  position  in  a  store  in  Little  York, 
Hunterdon  county.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  as  a  salesman  in  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  in  1872,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  came 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  secured  a  position  as  a  traveling  salesman  in  a 
house  on  Market  street.  He  remained  with  that  firm  for  three  years,  and 
with  other  firms  in  same  line  till  1884,  and  in  that  year  began  business  on 
his  own  account,  in  a  small  way,  occupying  a  portion  of  a  friend's  store 
with  a  line  of  notions  which  he  sold  to  the  wholesale  trade.  Steadily  his 
business  increased,  demanding  larger  facilities,  and  in  1894  he  removed  to 
his  present  commodious  quarters  at  No.  313  Market  street,  where  he  has 
a  large  store,  occupying  four  floors  and  basement,  with  an  extensive  and 
well  selected  stock  of  notions,  hosiery  and  underwear.  In  1896  he  admitted 
William  C.  Gallagher  to  a  partnership  in  the  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Roberson  <&  Compau}-,  and  the  connection  is  still  continued.  Their 
output  is  large  and  is  shipped  to  \arious  sections  of  the  countr}-.  The 
house  enjoys  a  most  creditable  reputation  for  reliability  and  is  now  one  of 
the  successful  mercantile  concerns  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Roberson  is  very  prominent  in  social  circles,  especially  in  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  belongs  to  Florence  Lodge,  No.  87,  F.  &  .\.  M., 
of  Woodbury;  Mount  Moriah  Chapter,  No.  20,  R.  A.  M.;  Ivanhoe  Com- 
mandery.  No.  11,  K.  T.,  of  Bordentown;  Excelsior  Consistory,  of  Camden; 
and  Lulu  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  has  been  honored  with  a 
number  of  offices  in  the  order,  has  been  the  master  of  the  lodge,  high 
priest  of  the  chapter,  and  eminent  commander  in  the  Iv.  T.  organization. 
His  political  support  has  been  gi\-en  to  the  Reinililican  party,  and  he  is  an 
active  representative  of  the  organization  which  stands  for  the  protection 
of  Ameican  industries  and  which  has  ever  been  the  loyal  supporter  of  the 
flag.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  Bordentown  city  council  and  has  been 
prominently  mentioned  in  connection  with  legislati\-e  nominations. 

^Ir.  Roberson  was  married  in   1875,  Miss  Susie  Molyneaux  becoming 


54  DJOCRAPinCAL   HISTORY   Of   THE   FIRST 

his  wife.  Slie  is  a  nati\e  of  Bordentown.  Xew  Jersey,  and  a  daughter  of 
James  Molyneaux.  a  well  known  engineer  of  that  place.  Seven  children 
were  bom  of  their  union,  of  whom  six  are  living,  namely:  Harold  M.. 
Saiiford,  Helen,  James,  Horace  and  Beatrice.  The  family  have  a  beautiful 
home  at  \\'oodi)ury  and  the  members  of  the  household  occupy  verv  prom- 
inent positions  in  social  circles. 

There  is  ever  a  degree  of  satisfaction  and  profit  in  scanning  the  life 
history  of  one  who  has  attained  to  an  eminent  degree  of  success  as  tlie 
diametrical  result  of  his  own  efforts,  who  has  had  the  mentality  to  direct 
his  endeavors  toward  the  desired  ends,  and  the  singleness  and  steadfastness 
of  purpose  which  have  given  due  value  to  each  consecutive  detail  of  ef¥ort. 
As  a  distinctive  type  of  the  self-made  man  we  mention  the  honored  subject 
of  this  review,  whose  connection  with  the  commercial  interests  of  Phila- 
delphia has  won  him  prominence  among  the  leading  men  of  the  city.  He 
possesses  marked  social  qualities  and  in  private  life  is  a  genial,  cordial  gen- 
tleman who  has  won  hosts  of  warm  friends. 


CHARLES    H.    REED. 


The  old,  historic  Reed  farm,  a  portion  of  which  I.  S.  Reed  owns  and 
which  adjoins  the  farm  of  our  subject,  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  for  several  generations,  and  the  various  proprietors  have  been  noted 
for  all  of  the  qualities  which  go  to  the  making  of  thoroughly  worthy, 
patriotic  citizens.  The  old  homestead,  on  which  the  lives  of  numerous 
members  of  the  Reed  family  have  been  passed,  is  situated  near  the  Salem 
road,  in  Piles  Grove  township,  Salem  county,  and  the  venerable  farm-house, 
whose  walls  have  sheltered  hundreds,  perhaps,  of  persons  who  long  ago  fin- 
ished their  earthly  careers,  was  erected  in  1746;  and  now,  though  more  than 
a  century  and  a  half  has  passed  since  its  completion,  it  is  well  preserved,  and 
speaks  eloquently  of  the  thoroughness  and  painstaking  care  which  its  builder 
exercised.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  Hunt,  was  liv- 
ing on  a  large  farm,  a  half-mile  away,  on  the  new  Salem  road,  when  the 
house  was  ransacked  by  the  British  in  their  eagerness  to  find  jewels  or  money 
which  might  have  been  secreted,  even  requiring  ]Mrs.  Hunt  to  loosen  her 
hair,  letting  it  hang  unrestricted! 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Israel  S.  and  Mary  (Miller)  Reed,  both 
respected  citizens  of  Piles  Grove  township.  Besides  conducting  the  home- 
stead farm,  the  father  was  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Alloways- 
town  and  Woodstown,  for  several  vears,  and  met  with  success  in  his  en- 


CONGRESSIONAL    D/STRIC7    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  55 

deavors  to  provide  well  for  his  family.  He  had  married  Miss  Sally  Hunt  in 
his  early  manhood  and  by  that  union  two  children  were  born:  Mary,  now 
of  Philadelphia,  and  William,  who  is  deceased.  His  second  marriage  was 
blessed  with  four  children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  Sarah,  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Chester  Bridgman;  Thomas,  a  physician,  died  in  1866;  Charles  H.  is  the 
third,  and  Israel  S.  is  living  on  part  of  the  old  Reed  estate,  adjoining  our 
subject's  farm. 

Charles  H.  Reed  was  born  on  this  homestead,  and  as  child,  youth  and 
man  has  loved,  and  been  closely  associated  with,  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment. He  received  good  educational  advantages,  was  a  student  in  the  pri- 
vate schools  of  Woodstown,  and  in  1858  pursued  a  course  at  Bridgeton 
Academy.  He  has  been  a  great  reader,  aiming  to  keep  thoroughly  posted 
on  the  current  events  and  important  issues  of  the  day.  Since  he  completed 
his  education  he  has  been  cjuietly  occupied  in  carrying  on  his  farm,  and  has 
won  an  enviable  reputation  for  business  integritv  and  fairness  in  all  of  his 
transactions. 


GEORGE   ESSLER. 


George  Essler,  the  manager  of  Moore  Brothers'  glass-works  at  Clayton, 
New  Jersey,  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  also  named 
George  Essler,  was  a  native  of  Wittenberg,  Germany,  and  his  father's  name 
was  John.  George  came  to  this  country  in  1847.  settling  in  Philadelphia.  By 
trade  he  was  a  baker  and  crimp  boot  maker.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  in 
1882.  He  was  an  excellent  man  and  highly  moral.  He  married  Margaret 
Kohn,  the  daughter  of  Frank  Kohn.  of  Germany.  She  departed  this  hfe 
in  1880.  Of  their  six  children  two  are  living:  Mary,  Mrs.  Frank  Hoke;  and 
our  subject. 

Up  to  the  time  our  sul)ject  was  twelve  years  of  age,  he  had  the  advan- 
tage of  the  common  schools  of  Philadelphia,  and  at  that  time  he  went  into 
the  hotel,  working  for  his  father  for  five  years.  In  1873  he  went  to  Williams- 
town,  New  Jersey,  near  which  place  he  worked  on  a  farm,  but  later  we  find 
him  in  a  glass  factory,  where  he  was  one  of  the  packers.  In  1876  he  came  to 
Clayton,  his  present  home,  and  here  he  began  as  a  packer  for  Moore 
Brothers,  but  was  made  inspector  of  glass,  afterward  assistant  manager,  and 
in  1887  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  general  manager,  which  place 
he  ably  fills. 

Socially  our  suliject  is  an  excellent  man.  He  belongs  to  the  Junior 
Order  of  American  INIechanics,  of  which  lodge  he  is  the  present  treasurer. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.     For  the  past  three  years  he  has 


56  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

served  as  citj'  councilman  and  has  been  on  the  school  board  for  the  same 
time.  Morally  there  is  no  better  man.  August  9,  1873,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  John  N.  Lutz.  of  A\'illiamsto\vn.  Their  five  living 
children  are  Harry,  John,  Ehvood.  Charles  and  Nellie  May, — all  at  home. 
Step  by  step  has  this  industrious  artisan  pushed  his  way  to  the  front  rank 
of  workers  in  his  line.  A  man  of  good  habits,  one  who  loves  his  family,  and 
is  not  ashamed  to  labor,  he  has  won  the  esteem  of  the  firms  for  which  he  has 
worked,  as  well  as  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived  an  upright,  honor- 
able citizen. 


GEORGE    S.    HULICK. 


Among  the  respected  farmers  of  Pittsgrove  township,  Salem  county, 
New  Jersey,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  G.  S.  Hulick,  who  was  born  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  December  20,  1819.  He  is  the  son  of  Captain 
Cornelius  Hulick,  a  native  of  Mount  Holly,  New  Jersey,  and  a  grandson  of 
John  Hulick.  John  Hulick  with  his  wife  Mary  came  from  England  to  New 
Jersey  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  centur}-,  locating  on  the  present 
site  of  the  town  of  Mount  Holly.  John  Hulick  served  throughout  the  Revo- 
lution under  ^^'ashington  and  was  a  pensioner  of  that  war  until  1S30.  when 
he  died,  in  Batavia,  Ohio,  at  an  advanced  age. 

John  and  Mary  Hulick  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children.  In  1S14 
their  son  James  emigrated  to  the  southwestern  part  of  Ohio,  going  in  com- 
pany with  "Dad"  Tice,  a  journeyman  blacksmith,  traveling  the  distance  of 
nearly  eight  hundred  miles  in  a  wagon  ironed  by  Tice.  James  Hulick  pur- 
chased hundreds  of  acres  of  land  in  that  locality,  helping  to  found,  lay  out 
and  build  up  the  town  of  Batavia.  Shortly  afterward  the  entire  family,  ex- 
cept Cornelius,  who  was  the  youngest  son  and  who  was  then  an  apprentice, 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  they  are  reckoned  among  the  most  influential  citi- 
zens of  that  state.  George  W.  Hulick  was  for  many  years  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  leaving  the  bench  to  sen'e  two  terms  in 
the  senate  halls  at  Washington.  Cornelius  had  intended  to  follow  the  family 
to  Ohio,  but  afterward  decided  to  remain  in  New  Jersey,  finally  locating  in 
Pittsgrove  township.  He  was  the  captain  of  the  Pittsgrove  militia  for  many 
years.  Captain  Hulick  was  a  millwright  by  trade  and  first  came  to  Pitts- 
grove to  build  a  cloth  mill  for  Joseph  Nelson.  The  old  stone  gristmill  at 
or  near  Bridgeton,  which  was  the  first  mill  built  in  south  Jersey,  was  said 
to  be  the  only  mill  in  the  three  lower  counties  than  Captain  Cornelius  Hulick 
had  not  built  or  rebuilt ;  consequently  he  was  widely  known  and  greatly 
respected. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF  NEW  JERSEY.  57 

He  married  Ann  Straughen,  of  Auburn,  formerly  Sculltown.  She  was 
of  Dutch-Irish  parentage  and  was  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of  the  Luther 
family  of  Saxony.  Cornelius  Hulick  died  August  5,  1876,  aged  eighty-four 
years,  and  his  wife,  Ann,  died  in  1880,  aged  eighty-five  years.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Mary,  who  mar- 
ried James  Sayre,  of  Greenwich,  Cumberland  county,  and  becoming  a  widow 
married  Chalkly  Kille  and  is  again  a  widow;  Ann,  who  married  Aaron  Shoul- 
ders and  both  died  leaving  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters; 
George  S.,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch  and  who  married  Elizal^eth 
Morgan,  the  wife  dying  in  1888  and  leaving  no  children;  Margaret  L.,  the 
widow  of  George  Martin;  Jacob,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mahalath  is  unmarried; 
Abigail,  the  widow  of  Captain  David  Young,  of  the  Clyde  steamship  line 
and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters:  and  Hannah,  who  is  the  wife  of  Stacy 
P.  Moore.     All  are  residents  of  Pittsgrove,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey. 

James  and  Mary  Hulick  Sayre  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  three 
sons  and  five  daughters.  Their  first-born  were  twin  boys,  born  December 
30,  1840,  and  named  William  Harrison  and  John  Tyler  Sayre.  In  1861, 
when  they  were  but  twenty  years  of  age,  they  enlisted  in  Company  A. 
Twelfth  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  John  was  killed  Friday,  May  6,  1864,  in 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  but  William  served  throughout  the  war,  was 
honorably  discharged  and  has  resided  for  many  years  on  a  farm  at  Clayton, 
New  Jersey.  G.  S.  Hulick  has  been  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life,  and  he 
and  his  sister  Mahalath  still  reside  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Pittsgro\-e. 


MARTIN    PHILIP    GREY. 

Martin  Philip  Grey,  of  Saiem,  New  Jersey,  is  one  of  the  vice  chancellors 
of  the  state.  He  is  the  younger  son  of  Philip  James  and  Sarah  Woolston 
Stephens  Grey,  and  was  born  in  Camden,  New  Jersey,  in  the  year  184 1.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  Philadelphia  schools,  and  in  his  youth  learned 
the  trade  of  printer  in  his  father's  olifice,  in  Camden,  where  was  published 
the  newspaper  then  called  the  West  Jerseyman,  now  known  as  the  West 
Jersey  Press.  Later  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  law  and  under  the  pre- 
ceptorship  of  Hon.  Thomas  Preston  Carpenter,  formerl}'  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  supreme  court  of  New  Jersey,  was  in  1863  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  at 
once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  While  at  the  bar  Mr. 
Grey's  practice  was  confined  chiefly  to  the  middle  and  southern  counties 
of  the  state.  He  was  appointed  vice  chancellor  in  1896,  and  holds  his  cham- 
bers at  Camden  and  Trenton. 


58  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE   FIRST 

Mr.  Grey  is  a  man  of  a  familw  He  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Dunham,  a 
daughter  of  James  R.  and  Sarali  A.  (Taylor)  Dunham.  They  have  five 
children,  namely:     Norman,  Elsie.  Isabel  Thompson.  Maliel  and  Jane. 


JOSEPH  SUTTON. 

Mr.  Sutton's  extensive  connection  with  the  business  affairs  of  Ocean 
City  and  Cape  j\Iay  county  has  made  him  a  very  important  factor  in  com- 
mercial and  industrial  circles.  Ele  is  connected  with  many  and  varied 
interests,  the  management  of  which  requires  marked  executive  ability,  keen 
discernment  and  strong  mentality.  He  has  wisely  placed  his  capital  in 
that  safest  of  all  investments,  real  estate,  yet  is  a  man  of  resourceful  ability 
and  has  not  confined  his  efforts  to  one  line  of  business.  He  belongs  to 
that  class  of  representative  American  citizens  who,  while  promoting  in- 
dividual pros]>erity.  also  contribute  to  the  general  welfare  and  to  public 
progress. 

Mr.  Sutton  is  one  of  the  younger  representatives  of  the  commercial 
interests  of  his  adopted  county,  and  is  therefore  deserving  of  greater  credit 
for  the  many  possessions  he  has  attained.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia. 
Pennsylvania,  July  23.  1865,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  L.  (Smith)  Sutton. 
Tlie  family  name  is  of  English  origin.  The  paternal  great-great-grand- 
father. William  Sutton,  was  one  of  the  early  residents  of  Philadelphia, 
making  his  home  on  Broad  street  in  colonial  days.  He  was  a  real-estate 
dealer  and  had  extensive  property  interests.  Throughout  his  life  he  re- 
sided in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  where  centered  many  of  the  public 
interests  of  the  country  at  that  time.  He  lived  to  see  the  establishment  of 
the  republic,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  was  a  Whig.  His  children  were 
Sarah,  Joseph  and  Daniel  D.  He  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  The  youngest  member  of  the  family  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  resided  at  the  old  homestead  in  Philadelphia,  and  carried  on 
a  grocery  business  at  the  corner  of  Crown  and  Bedford  streets — a  well- 
kno'wn  and  resi^ected  merchant  of  his  native  city.  He  voted  with  the 
Whig  party  until  its  dissolution,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new 
Republican  party.  His  death  occurred  in  1883,  when  he  had  attained  the 
age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1879,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years.  Their  children  were  John,  Daniel  D.,  \\'illiam.  Peter. 
Almira,  Anna,   Elmira,  Rebecca,  Sarah  and   Emma. 

John  Sutton,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  and 
has  spent  his  entire  life  there,  being  yet  one  of  its  esteemed  citizens.  He 
is  now  engaged  in   the  undertaking  business.   His  political   views  are   in 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  59 

harmony  witli  the  ]jrinciples  of  tlie  Republican  party.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  L.  Smitli.  and  two  children  were  born  to  them,  but  the  younger, 
Clara,  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

Joseph  Sutton,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia,  and  with  a  good  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  English  branches  of  learning  he  entered  upon  his  Inisiness 
career,  as  an  employe  in  the  real-estate  of^ce  of  Henry  W.  Gimber.  He 
thus  liecame  familiar  with  the  Ijusiness,  learned  the  methods  pursued  l)y 
its  representatives,  and  gained  a  good  knowledge  of  land  values.  He  was 
thus  engaged  until  1886,  when  he  took  up  bookkeeping,  which  he  followed 
for  about  ten  years.  Since  1895  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
lousiness  on  his  own  account  in  Ocean  City,  and  is  a  recognized  leader  in 
this  industry.  He  carries  on  a  general  brokerage  business  and  is  also 
extensively  connected  with  various  transportation  lines.  He  is  financially 
interested  in  the  Ocean  City  steam  railway,  which  has  built  and  operates 
a  branch  from  Ocean  City  to  Sea  Isle  junction.  He  was  one  of  the  chief 
promoters  of  this  road,  and  its  success  is  largely  attributable  to  his  efforts 
in  its  behalf.  He  carries  on  business  as  a  trolley  contractor.  He  is  also 
a  stockholder  and  the  secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Construction 
Company,  doing  a  general  electric  construction  business.  He  is  also  the 
general  gravel  agent  for  the  southern  coast  of  New  Jersey,  and  is  interested 
in  handling  fancy  tile  clay,  a  company  of  which  he  is  a  member  having 
extensive  clay  beds  at  Tuckahoe.  He  is  one  of  the  originators  of  the  idea 
of  filling  up  the  meadows  at  Ocean  City  for  building  sites,  a  work  that  was 
prosecuted  at  the  cost  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars:  and  he  also  repre- 
sented at  this  point  the  interests  of  Henry  Moore,  of  Haddonfield,  New 
Jersey,  who  is  the  principal  owner  of  the  Ocean  City  Railroad.  Various 
other  enterprises  claim  his  time  and  attention,  and  he  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  securing  the  success  which  has  attended  many  of  these  concerns. 

Mr.  Sutton  is  also  deeply  interested  in  the  movements  affecting  the 
welfare  of  the  city  and  lends  his  aid  and  co-o]3eration  in  ever}-  movement 
that  he  belie\es  will  ]3roniote  the  public  good.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  fire  department,  and  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  is  lal)or- 
ing  earnestly  to  advance  its  growth  and  insure  its  success.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained  the  Royal 
Arch  degree.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 
His  home  relations  are  pleasant,  and  his  family  occupy  an  enviable  position 
in  social  circles.  He  was  married  on  Thanksgiving  day  of  1880,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Alice  Bradshaw,  of  May's  Landing,  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children, — John  W.  and  Flora  V. 


6o  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORV   OF   THE   FIRST 

Endowed  by  nature  witli  a  sonnd  judgment  and  an  acurate.  discrimin- 
ating mind,  Mr.  Sutton  has  not  feared  lliat  laborious  attention  to  business 
so  necessary  to  achieve  success,  and  tliis  unusual  quality  has  ever  been 
guided  by  a  sense  of  moral  right. 


MRS.  CLEMEXCE  B.\SSETT. 

One  of  the  old  and  honored  colonial  families  of  Salem  county.  New 
Jersey,  the  Bassetts,  have  been  represented  here  for  over  two  centuries. 
Following  closely  in  the  wake  of  the  first  few  brave  voyagers  of  Mayflower 
fame,  the  good  ship  "Fortune"  plowed  her  way  across  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
in  162 1,  and  among  the  courageous  souls  who  thus  sought  a  home  and 
"freedom  to  worship  God"  in  the  new  land  of  promise  there  were  two 
young  men  by  the  name  of  Bassett — William  and  Joseph.  Many  of  their 
descendants  continue  to  dwell  in  the  vicinity  of  Lynn  and  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  they  landed,  while  others  reside  in  Rhode  Island  and  Con- 
necticut. In  1691  William  Bassett  emigrated  from  Lynn  to  Salem,  Xew 
Jersey,  and  here  he  and  his  posterity  found  happy  homes  and  an  abundance 
of  this  world's  goods  in  return  for  their  labors. 

One  of  the  descendants  of  William  Bassett  was  Howard  Bassett,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  1840,  and  who  was  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Piles 
Grove  townshiji,  this  county.  Born  and  reared  within  its  boundaries,  he 
took  up  the  study  of  dentistry  when  a  young  man.  but  on  account  of  ill 
health  found  it  advisable  to  abandon  the  profession,  and  to  seek  the  benefits 
of  country  out-door  life.  He  accordingly  turned  his  attention  to  agricul- 
ture. Among  his  lifelong  friends  and  neighbors  he  was  admired  and  be- 
loved,  and,  so  far  as  is  known,  he  possessed  no  enemies.  Though  he  was 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Friends'  meeting,  his  love  for  the  Union  and 
the  great  causes  at  stake  in  the  civil  war  led  to  his  enlisting  as  a  member 
of  Company  A,  Twenty-fourth  New  Jersey  Regiment,  but  when  his  country 
no  longer  needed  the  aid  of  her  loyal  sons  he  resumed  his  wonted  place 
with  the  Society  of  Friends.  At  length  the  summons  came  to  him  that  his 
earthly  mission  was  at  an  end,  and  his  eyes  were  closed  in  death  five  years 
ago,  when  he  was  in  his  fifty-fourth  year. 

The  marriage  of  Howard  Bassett  and  Clemence  Hinchman,  of  this 
county,  was  solemnized  February  13,  iSf^y.  They  liecame  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  namely:  Eugene  W.,  Edward  H.,  Mary  Elizabeth  (wife 
of  C.  A.  Afattison).  Gertrude  W.,  Clement  H.,  Clara  H.,  and  Howard,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years,  in  1893.     ^^''S-  Bassett  now  makes  her  home 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF  NEJl'  JERSEY.  6i 

with  her  aged  mother,  Mrs.  Ehzal)eth  B.  Cawley,  of  Woodstown.  The 
latter,  who  was  born  Novenilier  23,  1815,  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Jerusha  (Smith)  White.  She  received  unusually  excellent  educational  ad- 
vantages for  her  day,  as  it  was  her  privilege  to  attend  Samuel  Gourney's 
Boarding  School,  now  St.  Mary's  Hall,  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  an  insti- 
tution under  the  supervision  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  For  one  of  her 
years  she.  is  remarkably  well  preserved,  her  mind  being  as  clear  and  keen 
as  ever.  She  was  married  on  the  8th  of  November,  1842,  to  Clement 
Hinchman,  who  met  with  a  shocking  death  a  few  months  afterwards,  as 
he  was  caught  in  the  cog-wheel  of  a  mill  at  Sharpstown,  and  instantly  killed. 
He  was  but  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  gave  promise  of  becoming  one 
of  the  best  Inisiness  men  and  leading  citizens  of  this  localitv.  His  only 
child,  Clemence.  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  subsequent  to  his 
death,  and  the  sorrowing  young  mother  named  her  in  honor  of  the  father 
who  had  met  so  cruel  a  fate.  About  twenty  years  afterward  Mrs.  Hinchman 
became  the  wife  of  William  M.  Cawley,  the  date  of  this  event  being  January 
6,  1864.  Mr.  Cawley  was  a  native  of  Piles  Grove  township,  his  birth  hav- 
ing taken  place  in  18 19.  He  was  orphaned  at  an  early  age  and  was  self- 
educated  and  self-made,  yet  became  a  power  in  town  and  county  afifairs. 
He  was  a  master  in  chancery  and  surveyor  and  conveyancer.  He  was  sum- 
moned to  the  silent  land  November  8,  1875,  when  in  the  fifty-seventh  year 
of  his  age.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  active  in  the  promotion  of  right- 
eousness, and  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  poor  and  needy. 


DR.  SAMUEL  T.  MILLER. 

When  one  has  climbed  the  toilsome  heights  of  life's  journey  and  from 
the  summit,  ere  descending  into  the  peaceful  valley  of  old  age,  can  look 
back  upon  deeds  of  kindness  done  along  the  way.  or  help  given  to  the 
sick  and  weary,  and  cheer  to  the  despondent,  it  must  be  a  blessed  memory, 
a  recompense  for  the  hardships  and  trials  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  most 
mortals. 

The  honored  and  beloved  physician  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  has 
had  a  long  and  varied  experience,  both  in  the  walks  of  private  life  and  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  now  that  he  has  given  up  active  practice  in  his 
profession  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  a  well-spent  manhood  is 
crowned  with  a  gracious  and  genial  old  age,  admirable  in  its  rounded  full- 
ness. 

Dr.  Miller,  who  for  nearly  half  a  century  has  been  a  resident  of  Pauls- 


62  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

l)oro,  was  Ixini  near  Clarksboro.  Gloucester  county,  this  state,  Xovemlier 
26,  1826.  His  father,  John  B.  Miller,  as  well  as  his  grandfather,  also  named 
John,  was  born  in  (Ireenwich  township.  John  B.  Miller  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  locality,  being  successful  rinancially  and  holding  various  public 
offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  in  1846  or  1847.  ^^'3- 
a  county  judge  and  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  also  carried  on  farming 
extensively.  In  his  early  life  he  was  a  Democrat,  Init  on  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party  he  adopted  its  principles  and  became  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  its  doctrines.  He  was  married  on  New  Year,  1822,  to  Elizabeth 
A.,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Tyler,  of  Salem,  New  Jersey.  They  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living:  Abigail,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Hall,  of  Paulsboro:  she  is  now  seventy-five  years  of  age:  Samuel  T. :  Lydia 
.\.,  the  wife  of  James  M.  Roe,  of  Paulsboro:  Emily,  the  widow  of  George 
H.  Gaunt,  of  Paulsboro:  Anna,  the  wife  of  Zaccheus  Sickler,  of  Salem: 
Edward  G.,  a  freeholder:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Daniel  V.  Summeral.  of 
Salem  county;  and  Charles  F.,  a  resident  of  Paulsboro. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  local  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood until  old  enough  to  leave  home,  then  going  to  Philadelphia.  In 
this  city  he  entered  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  graduated  in 
its  medical  department  in  1850.  He  practiced  one  year  in  Harrisonville. 
and  then  removed  to  Paulsboro,  which  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  On 
the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  Dr.  Miller  offered  his  services  to  his  country, 
and  September  4,  1862,  was  tuustered  into  the  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Volun- 
teers as  surgeon.  He  did  much  valuable  service  during  the  operations  in 
Virginia,  and  found  ample  employment  for  his  skill  in  the  hospitals  as  well  as 
in  other  directions.  At  the  close  of  the  "war  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Pauls- 
boro, where  he  had  a  large  and  successful  practice  for  many  years,  retiring 
from  active  work  in  1889. 

During  his  long  and  busy  life  Dr.  Miller  has  been  a  leading  spirit  in 
all  public  enterprises  connected  with  his  town  and  couiUy.  It  was  due 
mainly  to  his  efforts  that  the  Delaware  River  Railroad  was  built  through 
Paulsboro,  and  he  was  for  many  years  a  director  of  the  road,  also  serving 
as  its  treasurer  and  being  at  the  present  time  secretary  of  the  company. 
He  has  held  \-arious  other  positions  of  trust:  was  county  school  superin- 
tendent, commissioner  of  deeds,  and  for  ten  years  county  judge.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  the  physician  at  the  almshouse.  In  politics  Dr.  Miller  is 
a  Democrat,  and  has  lielonged  to  the  political  organizations  of  the  county, 
and  also  to  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  one  of  five  men  who  built  the  hand- 
some stone  Methodist  church  in  Paulsboro,  and  his  purse  has  always  been 
open  to  the  calls  of  religion  and  philanthropy. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEU'   JERSEY.  63 

Dr.  Miller  has  been  three  times  married.  His  first  wife  was  Fannie  M. 
Price,  born  at  Camden  county,  November  9.  1834.  She  died  October 
26,  1879,  leaving  two  children,  John  B.,  residing  at  Paulsljoro;  and  Mary 
E.,  the  wife  of  Ottos  M.  Keefer,  living  at  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania.  Dr. 
Miller's  second  wife  was  Mary  J.,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  Forepaugh,  of 
Philadelphia,  to  whom  he  was  married  January  11,  1882.  She  died  February 
II,  1899.  No  children  were  born  of  this  union.  Dr.  Miller  married  his 
third  wife  November  15,  1899,  choosing  Miss  Mary  M.  Taylor,  of  Phila- 
delphia. 


JAMES  HUNTER,  M.   D. 

Dr.  James  Hunter  of  Newliold,  Gloucester  county,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  January  14,  1866,  the  son  of  James  Hunter,  Sr.,  and  Martha 
M.  Church,  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  on  his  father's  side,  and  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry  on  his  mother's  side.  The  Church  family  removed  from 
England  to  Ireland  at  an  early  date.  The  ancestors  of  the  Hunter  family 
removed  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  to  escape  religious  persecution,  settling 
in  Belfast,  Ireland.  The  grandfather,  William  Hunter,  of  Scotch  parentage, 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  spent  there  his  entire  life. 

James  Hunter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Ballymore,  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  April  28,  1843.  He  came  to  America  when  seventeen 
years  old  and  located  in  New  York  City.  On  August  9,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Seventieth  New  York  Volunteers,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  rebellion.  He  was  mustered  out  in  New  York 
in  July,  1865,  as  the  lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sev- 
entieth regiment.  His  military  career  is  as  follows:  He  enlisted  August 
8,  1862;  mustered  into  service  October  7,  1862;  appointed  sergeant  October 
7,  1862;  second  lieutenant  March  3,  1863;  and  first  lieutenant  June  3,  1863. 

Discharged  from  the  army,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  en- 
gaged for  several  years  in  mercantile  pursuits  with  his  brother  John. 
About  1870  he  entered  the  employ  of  A.  T.  Stewart  &  Company,  continuing 
until  1876,  when  he  engaged  in  the  wdiolesale  notion  business  with  William 
Sterling  at  No.  9  Strawberry  street,  Philadelphia.  Later  Mr.  Hunter  con- 
tinued the  business  alone,  but  on  account  of  failing  health,  being  finally 
obliged  to  relinquish  his  business,  he  retired  until  1896,  when  he  removed  to 
Westville,  where  he  now  resides  with  his  son.  Dr.  Hunter,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  His  other  children  are:  William,  who  married  Bertha  Mundell 
and  resides  in  Philadelphia;  Jennie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Hugh,  now  resid- 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

ing  in  Philadelphia:  Albert,  the  quartermaster  on  the  United  States  steamer 
New  York;  and  Edwin,  who  died  in  infancy. 

James  Hunter,  Jr..  acquired  his  primary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Philadelphia,  subsequently  taking  a  pharmaceutical  course  in  the  Phila- 
delphia College  of  Pharmacy.  He  afterward  studied  medicine  under  the 
instructions  of  Dr.  Francis  L.  Haynes,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  J.  Barron 
Potter,  of  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey.  In  1885  he  entered  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  and  was  graduated  in  1888.  During  this  year  he  assumed 
the  practice  of  Dr.  J.  S.  Sands,  of  Tarrytown,  Pennsylvania.  Returning  to 
Philadelphia,  he  began  practice  for  himself,  remaining  there  for  a  brief  period. 
For  nine  years  he  has  been  in  continuous  practice  at  Westville  and  New- 
bold,  New  Jersey.  In  May,  1891,  he  was  married,  at  Deerfield,  New  Jersey, 
to  Hannah  B.,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  Avis  and  Sallie  B.  Barker.  They 
have  one  daughter.  Avis,  born  May  31,  1897. 

Dr.  Hunter  is  a  member  of  the  Gloucester  County  Medical  Society,  the 
New  Jersey  State  Medical  Society,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Salem 
County  Medical  Society.  He  is  an  examining  physician  for  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  the  Mutual  Life  of  New  York,  Etna  Life  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Mutual.  In  1897  he  was 
elected  the  coroner  of  Gloucester  county  for  three  years.  He  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  educational  board,  and  as  district  clerk  of  that  board. 
In  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican,  and  in  respect  to  religion  he 
attends  the  Presbvterian  church. 


COOMBS  ACKLEY. 


Coombs  Ackley  resides  at  Ackley's  mill,  formerly  known  as  Parbin's 
mill,  near  Centerton,  Salem  county,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  respected 
and  popular  men  of  this  section.  He  was  born  in  January,  1828,  in  a  log 
house  near  the  Maurice  river,  the  eleventh  of  a  family  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren. His  parents  were  Uriah  and  Sarah  (Coombs)  Ackley,  who  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  this  locality. 

Uriah,  of  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry,  bought,  in  1815,  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  timber  land  and  swamp  at  the  junction  of  the  Maurice 
river  and  Muddy  run.  Here  he  built  a  substantial  log  house  for  his  family 
and  began  clearing  his  land,  cutting  large  quantities  of  lumber,  hoop-poles 
and  wood.  He  found  a  ready  market  for  this  produce  in  Millville  and 
Bridgeton.  whence  it  was  shipped  to  Philadelphia,  where  it  brought  good 
prices.     Another  industry,  that  demanded  a  great  deal  of  labor,  was  the 


^^e-jjisRiilishing  Co.Ch 


-t^i^^^y^^     e^^^^J^.^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  65 

burning  of  charcoal  on  the  adjoining  land,  known  as  the  Cumberland  Coal- 
ing, the  present  site  of  Vineland,  the  coal  produced  being  used  in  the 
Millville  furnaces.  In  a  few  years  good  crops  of  corn,  rye  and  grass  were 
growing  on  the  cleared  land,  and  large  numbers  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs 
were  raised.  These  ran  at  large  during  the  summer  season,  thus  procuring 
their  own  living  during  a  part  of  the  year.  Deer,  rabbits  and  foxes  were 
abundant  and  an  occasional  hear  was  seen,  all  of  which  made  fine  sport 
for  the  gunner. 

By  industry  and  ijerseverance  Mr.  Ackley  was  soon  in  good  circum- 
stances and  prospered  as  the  years  passed.  He  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lived,  was  at  one  time  a  freeholder  and  held 
other  township  oiifices.  With  the  assistance  of  a  few  neighbors,  a  school- 
house  was  built  and  a  teacher  hired  for  three  months  or  a  quarter  of  the 
year.  Here  religious  services  were  held  every  Sunday,  and  when  the  Cum- 
berland circuit  was  formed  an  itinerant  minister  preached  for  the  people  on 
a  week  day  once  in  two  weeks.  Uriah  Ackley  was  also  a  local  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  taking  a  strong  stand  against  the  liquor 
traffic.  His  labors  called  him  to  different  parts  of  Cumberland,  Cape  May 
and  Salem  counties,  where  he  was  widely  known  and  beloved.  .  He  died  in 
1854,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 

Sarah  Coombs,  his  wife,  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Coomlis.  of  the  vicin- 
ity of  Millville  and  of  a  famih-  widely  known  and  respected.  She  was  quiet 
and  gentle  in  manner,  a  true  mother  and  helpmeet.  She  died  in  1879,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  There  were  born  to  Uriah  and  Sarah 
Ackley  fourteen  children,  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived 
to  the  years  of  maturity  and  were  married.  The  deceased  are  Samuel,  wdio 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years;  William,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years: 
Joseph,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years;  Rachel,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  vears; 
Hannah  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years;  Jane,  at  the  age  of  fortv-five 
years;  and  Sarah  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  The  seven  still  living  are  Ann, 
aged  eighty-one;  Mary,  seventy-nine;  John,  seventy-seven;  Jes.sie.  seventv- 
five;  Coombs,  seventy-two;  Ruth,  seventy;  and  George,  sixty-five,  making 
an  average  of  the  children  a  little  more  than  seventy-three  years.  The  de- 
scendants reaching  the  fourth  generation  are  well  scattered  over  southern 
New  Jersey,  and  many  have  gone  to  other  states. 

Coombs  Ackley  received  in  the  public  school  what  education  he  obtained, 
— and  assisted  his  father  in  the  farm  until  1849,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Parvin,  now  deceased,  a  daughter  of  Lemuel  Parvin,  then  the  owner  of 
the  mill  property.  The  next  year  he  began  work  for  his  father-in-law  in  the 
sawmill,  and   continued   in   his  employ  for  seventeen  vears,  or  until    1867. 


66  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

when  he  purchased  the  mill  property  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  The 
work  done  in  the  mill  at  that  time  was  with  the  old  "up-and-down"  (vertical) 
saw:  and  though  the  work  was  done  more  slowly  than  in  these  days  of  cir- 
cular saws  there  was  a  ready  market  for  all  kinds  of  lumber  and  it  brought 
good  prices,  so  that  the  property  was  paid  for  in  a  few  years;  and  from  seven 
to  eight  hundred  acres  have  been  added,  seventy  acres  being  used  for  farm- 
ing. The  pond  or  lake  situated  on  Muddy  run  covers  an  area  of  one  hundred 
acres  or  more,  and  is  one  of  the  prettiest  bodies  of  water  in  south  Jersey.  It 
has  become  a  popular  resort  for  Sunday-school  and  lodge  picnics,  as  it  is 
where  a  quiet,  restful  day  is  sought  in  the  woods  and  where  boating  is  a 
favorite  pastime. 

Coombs  and  Jane  Ackley  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Their  names  are  William,  deceased:  Christianna  P.:  Sarah  J.;  Emma  S.:  and 
Ida  P.  In  politics  Coombs  Ackley  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  the  county  as 
a  freeholder  in  1863-4-5,  during  the  civil  war,  when  large  sums  of  money  had 
to  be  raised  for  bounty.  He  has  also  served  at  various  times  as  a  member  of 
the  township  committee  and  commissioner  of  appeals,  is  quiet  and  unassum- 
ing in  manner,  never  seeking  office  nor  popularity.  He  is  a  trustee  and 
steward  of  the  Union  Grove  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  an 
honored  member  and  liberal  contributor,  always  interested  in  the  promotion 
of  any  good  work  and  held  in  respect  and  esteem  by  his  neighbors  and  many 
friends. 


AARON  HURFF. 


Aaron  Hurf^,  one  of  the  prominent  residents  of  Swedesboro.  Gloucester 
county,  is  descended  from  ancestry  whose  connection  with  the  affairs  of 
this  country  antedates  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  grandparents,  Conrad 
and  Jerusha  HurfT,  were  born,  reared  and  married  in  Holland,  and  determin- 
ing to  seek  a  home  in  America,  they  crossed  the  Atlantic,  becoming  early 
settlers  near  what  is  now  Blackwood,  near  Woodbury,  New  Jersey.  Their 
children  were:  John,  who  lived  and  died  in  Blackwood:  Henry;  George; 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Davidson:  Mrs.  Ann  Cheeseman. 
and  Isaac. 

When  the  last  named  reached  man's  estate  he  located  on  a  farm  on 
Oldman's  Creek,  where  he  lived  for  some  time.  He  then  removed  to  an- 
other farm  further  down  the  creek,  and  became  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
agriculturists  of  that  locality.  In  1849  'i^  visited  friends  in  Illinois,  and 
while  returning  was  stricken  with  cholera,  dying  in  Terre  Haute,  July  24, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEIC   JIlRSnv.  u-j 

1849,  at  tlie  age  of  sixty-two  years  and  ten  days.  His  wife  Ijorc  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Jaggard,  and  was  a  clangliter  of  James  Jaggard,  wlio 
resided  near  Blackwood.  The  marriage  of  this  worthy  coujile  was  l)lessed 
with  six  children.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  wedded  Mary  Ann  Cheeseman,  had 
seven  children,  and  died  in  Elmwood.  Illinois,  in  i8g8,  at  the  age  of  eighty-' 
eight  years.  George  married  Martha  Ewalt,  of  Illinois,  had  six  children, 
and  died  in  Elmwood,  in  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  Keturah  became 
the  wife  of  James  White,  by  whom  she  had  five  children,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  California,  while  her  husband  passed  away  in  Illinois.  Henrv 
married  Elizabeth  Black,  by  whom  he  had  se\'en  children,  and  for  his  second 
wife  he  wedded  Harriet  Sailor,  l)y  whom  he  had  three  children.  He  always 
resided  near  Swedesboro,  where  he  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of- seventy- 
three  years.  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Weatherl^v,  and  they  had 
a  family  of  seven  children.  Daniel  married  Angeline  W'hitesides,  bv  whom 
he  had  three  children  and  is  now  li\'ing  in  Elmwood,  Illinois.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Isaac  Hurff  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Ann  Jaggard,  his  first  wife's  sister.  They  had  eleven  children.  William 
wedded  Mary  Lynch,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  ami  died  in  Swedes- 
boro. in  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  and  his  widow  is  still  living 
in  Swedesboro,  Reese  married  Ann  Thompson,  by  whom  he  had  nine 
children,  and  is  living  in  Roaclstown,  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey. 
Aaron  is  the  next  of  the  family.  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  Benjamin  F. 
Swing  and  has  five  children,  her  home  being  in  Shiloh.  Cumberland  county. 
New  Jersey.  Mary  is  the  widow  of  John  Ashcroft,  by  whom  she  had  five 
children,  three  now  living,  and  she  is  a  resident  of  Swedesboro.  Martha 
and  Delilah  were  twins.  The  latter  died  in  infancy,  but  the  former  married 
Samuel  Cooper,  of  Bridgeport.  Isaac,  a  resident  of  Elmwood.  Illinois, 
married  Elizabeth  Lynch,  and  has  two  children.  Deborah,  deceased  wife 
of  Samuel  Gaskill,  of  Swedesboro,  had  three  children  bv  her  marriage. 
Freeman  and  Freeland  were  also  twins.  The  former  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years  and  the  latter  married  Susan  Justice,  by  whom  he  had.  three 
children.     He  died  in  Bridgeport,  at  the  age  of  fiftv-six  years. 

Aaron  HuriT  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  but  his 
privileges  in  that  direction  were  very  limited,  as  he  was  enabled  to  pursue 
his  studies  for  only  a  few  days  during  the  year,  or,  as  he  expresses  it,  "when 
it  was  too  stormy  to  work  on  the  farm."  He  has  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits throughout  his  entire  life,  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  in  southern  New  Jersey,  His  landed  possessions  are  very  extensive 
and  valuable,  and  in  addition  to  owning  five  farms  he  is  one  of  the  heaviest 
stockholders  in  the  Swedesboro   Bank.     His  other  property  interests  are 


68  BIOGRAPHICAL   IIlSrORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

also  extensive  and  xaluable.  He  pnrchased  and  remodeled  his  ])resent  resi- 
dence in  S\vedesl)oro  in  i8~6,  and  lias  since  occu])ied  it. 

On  tlie  2(1  of  May,  1850,  Mr.  Hurff  was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Nliss  Sarah 
D.  Gardiner,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Gardiner,  of  ]\Iullica  Hill.  She  died 
Mav  ly,  1878.  Tn  their  family  were  four  children,  but  Mary  Ann,  the  third 
in  order  of  birth,  died  at  the  age  of  three  months.  Amos  G.,  the  eldest,  is 
a  resident  of  Swedesboro.  He  wedded  Maggie  Allen,  and  they  have  one 
child.  Aaron  H.  Freeman  married  Hannah  Sparks  and  has  one  living 
daughter.  May.  They  also  lost  a  daughter,  Grace.  Their  home  is  in  \\'ash- 
ington,  D.  C.  Sarah  G.  is  now  the  wife  of  Alexander  B.  Hewes,  of  Swedes- 
boro. 

In  his  ])(i]itical  \iews  'Sir.  Hurff  is  a  stanch  Repuldican,  who  keeps  well 
informeil  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  and  is  therefore  able  to  advance  an  in- 
telligent argument  in  support  of  the  principles  which  he  advocates.  His 
fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called 
upon  him  to  serve  in  positions  of  public  trust,  and  in  all  he  has  discharged 
his  duties  with  marked  promptness  and  fidelity.  In  business  affairs  he  is 
a  man  of  keen  discernment,  very  reliable  and  energetic,  and  his  capable 
management  and  well  directed  efforts  have  brought  to  him  creditable  suc- 
cess, making  him  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens  of  the  county. 


ALBERT  PORCH.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Albert  Porch  of  Clayton,  New  Jersey,  will  be  represented  in  this 
connection  as  one  of  the  leading  and  skillful  physicians  of  his  locality,  whose 
career  is  justly  entitled  to  be  made  a  part  of  the  history  which  he  himself  is 
helping  to  make.  He  was  born  at  Franklinville.  New  Jersey.  .April  9,  1842. 
His  father  was  \\'i!liam  Porch,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  Our  subject's 
grandfather  on  his  paternal  side,  Samuel,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  and 
his  great-grandfather  was  Elijah  Porch,  whose  ancestor  came  from  Eng- 
land. Three  brothers  of  the  name  of  Porch  came  to  America,  one  settling 
at  Trenton,  one  at  a  point  in  this  county,  and  one  in  Virginia.  Samuel 
was  in  the  war  of  181 2.  and  our  subject  now  possesses  the  sword  he  carried 
and  prizes  it  highly.  He  conducted  a  store,  sawmill  and  gristmill  at 
Franklinsville  for  many  years.  He  served  as  the  postmaster  for  a  long 
time,  and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  forty  years.  He  was  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  General  Jackson. 

William  Porch,  the  father  of  our  subject,  followed  farming  and  was  a 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   XEll'   JERSEY.  69 

constable  for  forty  years  of  his  life.  He  collected  taxes  for  twenty  years 
and  assessed  his  township  for  fifteen  years.  ]Many  came  to  him  for  ad\-ice, 
relying  on  their  own  opinion  not  so  nnich  as  upon  his.  In  religious  mat- 
ters he  was  a  JNIethodist.  and  he  lived  a  consistent  life.  He  died  in  1888. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Ruth  Sunan,  the  daughter  of  Peter  Sunan,  a 
large  land-owner  of  Salem  county.  She  died  in  1856.  Of  their  the  chil- 
dren, our  subject  is  the  only  sur\ivor. 

After  having  attended  the  common  schools,  Dr.  Albert  Porch  taught 
school  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  Next  he  engaged  in  the  study 
of  medicine,  and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1867,  after  which  he 
located  at  Franklinville,  practiced  there  for  five  years,  and  remo\ed  to  his 
present  home  in  Clayton.  He  belongs  to  the  Gloucester  County  Medical 
Society  and  the  JefTerson  College  Alumni  Association.  For  nine  years  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  educational  board.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
order,  and  is  now  a  past  master,  and  also  a  past  sachem  in  the  Order  of 
Red  Men.  His  name  also  appears  on  the  roll  of  active  members  in  the 
order  of  American  Mechanics.  In  his  practice  he  has  had  an  almost  phe- 
nomenal success.  Out  of  the  two  thousand  women  whom  he  has  cared 
for  during  their  confinement,  he  has  not  lost  a  case. 

For  his  companion,  the  Doctor  married  Martha  Melford.  the  daughter 
of  Lorenzo  Melford.  of  Millville.  Of  their  five  children,  the  names  of  the 
living  are:  Hannah,  a  graduate  of  the  normal  school;  and  Alice,  Harriet 
and  Francis  at  home. 

We  here  subjoin  a  bit  of  national  as  well  as  family  history,  of  which 
the  stibject  and  his  children  may  \\ell  care  to  preser\e.  During  the  stormy 
days  of  our  war  for  independence,  our  subject's  great-grandmother  served 
as  a  cook  in  General  Washington's  army.  She  accompanied  the  army 
wherever  they  chanced  to  go,  and  was  at  the  hard-fought  battle  of  Trenton, 
New  Jersey.  Our  subject  has  frequently  heard  her  tell  how  the  British 
bullets  whistled  as  they  sped  by  her! 

In  concluding  this  Ijrief  memoir  of  the  Doctor  and  his  estimable  family, 
it  should  be  remarked,  in  passing,  that  one  seldom  meets  a  familv  whose 
ancestry  are  so  closely  connected  with  the  singular  and  great  historic 
events  of  our  country,  as  the  one  of  which  we  have  just  written.  Members 
of  his  family  ha\'e  served  in  lioth  the  war  for  national  independence  and 
the  war  we  have  come  to  call  the  "War  of  181 2."  Our  subject's  excep- 
tional success  as  a  medical  practitioner,  his  connection  with  the  wirious 
civic  and  religious  orders,  his  bright  and  interesting  family,  all  make  his 
life  and  history  both  valuable  and  replete  with  interesting  events. 


■JO  B/OGR.IFIUC.IL   HISTORY   OF   THE    FIRST 

CLARK  PETTIT. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  introduce  this  gentleman  to  our  readers,  as  his 
name  is  familiar  not  onl)-  throughout  New  Jersey,  hut  also  in  almost  ever_\- 
other  state  in  the  Union,  as  one  of  the  foremost  breeders  of  fine  stock  in  this 
country;  and  he  has  done  more  to  advertise  the  city  of  Salem,  this  state,  than 
any  other  man  living  here.  He  is  a  farmer  of  more  than  average  ability  and 
instead  of  following  in  the  old  beaten  track,  has  branched  into  new  channels 
and  raised  the  standard  of  the  New  Jersey  farmer. 

He  is  a  son  of  James  Jess  and  Elizabeth  R.  (Ridgeway)  Pettit,  and  was 
horn  November  i,  1843.  in  Mannington  township,  this  county,  cjn  the  beau- 
tiful villa,  llcdgefield,  which  was  formerly  the  pro])ert_\-  of  his  grandfather 
and  is  now  his  own  home.  The  ancestral  tree  of  the  Pettit  family  grew  on 
English  soil,  the  first  branch  of  the  family  being  transplanted  to  America 
in  1638,  when  John  Pettit  located  with  his  family  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  Pettit  traces  his  genealogy  back  in  a  direct  line  to  this  early  pioneer 
as  follow's:  James  Jess;  Woodnut,  married  Sarah  Jess;  Joseph,  who  married 
Sarah  Bassett  in  1801 :  Jonathan,  who  built  at  Tuckertown  in  1799  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Shourds;  Nathaniel,  who  settled  in  Tuckertown,  this  state,  in  1734: 
Moses,  who  located  at  Mansfield,  New  Jersey,  in  1718;  Nathaniel,  who  came 
to  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  in  1714.  and  owned  the  bluffs  upon  which  the  New- 
Jersey  statediouse  now  stands:  Thomas,  a  resident  of  Newtown.  Long  Island, 
in  1682;  and  John,  the  founder  of  the  family  on  American  soil. 

Woodnut  Pettit,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  tow  n- 
ship,  where  he  attended  the  country  schools  and  later  engaged  in  farming 
in  that  and  Elsinboro  townships.  In  1821  he  purchased  Hedgefield  and  re- 
sided there  until  the  marriage  of  his  son,  the  father  of  our  subject,  when  he 
moved  to  Salem  and  lived  in  retirement  for  some  si.xteen  years  prior  to  his 
death.  He  owned  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  the  first  to  l)e  cleared 
off  between  Salem  and  Woodstown.  This  clearing  was  the  work  of  Samuel 
Hedge,  who  married  one  of  the  daughters  of  John  Fenwick.  Woodnut  Pettit 
was  a  very  prominent  man  and  closely  identified  with  the  local  affairs  of  that 
community,  at  one  time  serving  as  a  member  of  the  legislature.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  attended  the  Salem  meeting.  He  was 
a  man  of  strong  force  of  character  and  decided  opinions  who  lived  up  to  his 
ideals  and  was  esteemed  for  his  honorable  and  upright  life. 

James  Jess  Pettit.  the  father,  was  born  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township 
in  1 819  and  spent  the  eariier  part  of  his  life  in  farming  on  the  land  now- 
owned  and  occupied  Ijy  his  son  Clark.  In  1866  he  retired  from  the  acti\e 
duties  of  life,  finally  taking  up  his  residence  in  Woodstown.  where  he  now 


oyf4c  yiMzt: 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEJl'   /ERSEV.  yi 

lives.  He  has  been  closely  identified  with  townshi])  affairs  and  held  a  num- 
ber of  offices,  such  as  assessor,  committeeman,  etc.  He  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  later  a  Republican,  and  then  having  the  courage  of  his  convictions, 
he  took  a  decided  stand  for  prohibition  and  has  been  an  ardent  advocate 
of  that  policy  ever  since.  He  has  always  been  an  attendant  of  the  Salem  and 
W'oodstown  meetings  and  is  a  man  whose  sterling  worth  and  pure  life  has 
made  him  a  man  among  men.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Ridgeway  and  for  more  than  half  a  century  they  have  journeyed 
through  life  together,  sharing  each  other's  joys  and  sorrows  until  they  have 
reached  the  eighty-first  and  seventy-eighth  years  respectively  of  their  lives 
and  are  spending  their  sunset  years  in  the  serene  consciousness  of  lives  well 
spent  and  duties  fittingly  performed.  Three  children  were  sent  to  brighten 
their  fireside  and  bring  comfort  to  their  declining  years,  the  eldest  being 
Clark,  our  subject;  Ruth,  born  April  3,  1845,  married  William  Reeves, 
formerly  a  farmer  of  this  vicinity,  but  latterly  a  resident  of  Helena,  Montana, 
where  he  is  interested  in  the  mines  of  that  state.  Their  two  children  are 
^lartha.  who  married  \\'arren  Flitcraft,  a  druggist  of  Haddonfield.  this  state, 
by  whom  she  had  one  child.  Ruth,  and  Frank  Reeves,  who  is  in  the  insur- 
ance business  in  Philadelphia:  and  Dilwyn,  who  was  born  (October  25.  1847. 
and  married  Miss  Mattie  Smith  and  is  a  lumber  merchant  in  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts.    He  has  one  son,  Clarence. 

Clark  Pettit  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Salem  and  Eldridge  Hill, 
graduating  at  the  Salem  high  school.  He  then  assisted  his  father  with  the 
duties  of  the  farm,  gradually  assuming  the  management  until  he  had  entire 
control,  carrying  on  general  farming.  In  1870  he  began  breeding  fine  stock 
of  different  kinds,  and  his  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  swine  are  known  over  a 
large  section  of  the  country.  His  hogs  are  the  finest  bred  in  this  state,  and 
every  state  in  the  Union  has  received  shipments  of  his  Jersey  Reds,  a  pure 
strain  of  which  he  is  justly  proud.  He  has  also  been  noted  for  his  South- 
down sheep,  while  his  herds  of  Jersey  and  Guernsey  cattle  it  would  l)e  a 
difficult  matter  to  equal.  But  it  is  his  horses  that  form  the  chief  attraction 
at  this  peerless  farm.  Standard-bred  road  and  track  horses  are  his  specialty, 
and  his  stud,  established  in  1880,  has  contained  horses  whose  records  have 
made  them  famous  all  over  our  land.  The  beauty  and  symmetry  of  these  colts 
attract  universal  attention  and  enable  them  to  command  double  the  price  of 
any  other  breed  in  the  country.  At  the  head  stands  Bellman  with  a  record 
of  2:14^.  and  King  Wedge  with  a  trial  of  2:26.  While  his  brood  mares  are 
from  horses  who  are  speed  getters,  such  as  Onward,  Red  W'ilkes.  Leland, 
George  Wilkes,  Aberdeen,  Dictator,  Saladin,  Othello,  Lancewood  and 
Happy  Medium,  of  Hambletonian  stock.     Mr.  Pettit  has  raced  Bellman  in 


72  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE   FIRST 

all  the  larger  cities  and  he  has  trotteil  his  half  mile  in  i  :o3.  He  covered  him- 
self with  glory  hy  heating  the  cracks  of  his  class  in  hotly  contested  races 
and  added  additional  laurels  to  a  record  which  was  par  excellence,  a  superior 
one.  There  are  but  few  farms  having  two  stallions  that  are  adding  to  their 
honors  right  along  like  Bellman  and  King  Wedge.  Some  of  the  colts  bred 
by  him  that  have  made  records  in  the  racing  world  and  brought  their  owner 
a  handsome  price  are  Camilla,  record  2:24-!;  Bellette.  record  2:16^^, 
trial  2:13!;  Bell,  of  Hedgefield,  2:29^,  trial  2:19;  Betsey  Bellman, 
2:2T,'l,  trial  2:13;  Bell  Leland,  2:23^;  Baltimore,  2:30;  Brigham  Bell, 
2:22:J^,  trial  2:19,  and  Nellie  R.,  2:i5f.  Mares  from  all  over  the  country  are 
sent  to  his  stables  to  be  bred.  South  Carolina,  Montana,  \'irginia,  etc..  being 
often  represented,  seventy  head  now  being  found  there.  At  the  tri-state  fair 
of  Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  New  Jersey  held  in  1894  he  took  six  first 
prizes  and  one  second  on  seven  entries,  and  in  eighteen  show  rings  Bellman 
carried  ofif  eighteen  first  premiums.  Few  men  are  better  known  through- 
out the  state  than  Mr.  Pettit  or  enjoy  a  better  reputation  for  honest,  upright 
dealing.  He  also  conducts  a  nursery,  which  was  established  about  fifty 
years  ago  and  from  which  he  sells  many  trees  of  such  varieties  as  his  life 
experience  proves  are  best  suited  to  that  locality. 

He  was  married  January  3,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  Colson,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Colson,  a  farmer  of  Gloucester  county.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren: Henry  Woodnut,  born  in  December,  1866,  is  a  salesman  of  Salem. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  House,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  House,  of  Alloway, 
and  has  one  child,  Mary.  Carroll  Lippincott,  born  in  1868,  is  a  farmer  in 
Piles  Grove  township  and  married  Mamie  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Peter  E. 
Smith,  by  whom  he  has  four  children, — Frank,  Elmer,  Joseph  and  Cornelia; 
and  Charles  R.,  at  his  parental  home.  His  wife  dying  May  17,  1882,  when 
in  her  thirty-ninth  year,  Mr.  Pettit  on  October  8,  1884,  chose  as  his  bride 
Miss  Mary  Augusta  Austin,  daughter  of  William  Austin,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  Piles  Grove  township.  This  union  also  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children, — Edward  Austin,  James  and  John  Lawrence. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Pettit  is  familiarly  known  as  Hedgefield  and  is  one  of 
the  most  attractive  spots  in  Salem  county.  The  grounds  are  among  the 
most  productive  in  this  section  of  the  state,  noted  for  fertile  lands,  and  are 
ornamented  by  attractive,  spacious  buildings,  surrounded  by  fine  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  and  occupying  an  eminence  commanding  a  view  of  country 
at  once  pleasing  and  varied.  In  politics  he  prefers  to  be  independent  of  any 
party  lines  and  votes  for  the  best  man  regardless  of  party.  He  attends  the 
Friends"  meetings  at  Salem  and  is  a  man  who  would  be  a  credit  to  any  com- 
munity. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEIV   JERSEY.  73 

JAMES  SWING  JOHNSON. 

Anv  liistory  of  New  Jersey  would  fail  to  be  complete  unless  the  name 
of  James  Swing  Johnson  was  given  a  place  in  its  pages,  for  he  was  a  typical 
representative  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneer  families  of  Salem  county,  the 
memory  of  whom  will  ever  be  held  sacred  for  the  services  rendered  this 
part  of  the  state  in  its  struggle  against  barbarism  and  ignorance.  He  was 
born  June  17,  18 19,  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  and  Margaretta  Lambson.  The  earlier  settlers  who  came  to  this 
county  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  found  the  name  of  John- 
son was  a  familiar  one  even  at  that  time.  A  Swedish  family  named  Johan- 
son  located  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware  at  what  is  now  Penn's 
Neck  in  1640,  but  the  name  was  soon  merged  into  Johnson.  The  first 
English  settlers  of  that  name  was  Richard  Johnson  and  his  cousin  Thomas, 
who  settled  in  Fenwick's  tenth  a  few  months  before  that  gentleman  himself 
located  in  this  country. 

John  Johnson  and  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Suayberry, 
came  from  London,  England,  about  1756  and  settled  in  Salem,  where  he 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Piles  Grove,  now  Pittsgrove  township, 
upon  which  they  settled.  He  possessed  considerable  property  and  was  a 
man  of  means.  He  died  March  31,  1802,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years, 
and  his  wife,  June  28,  1825,  at  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
Their  family  consisted  of  James,  John,  Rebecca,  Samuel,  Phoebe,  William, 
Mary  and  Isaac.  James  Johnson,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  October  31, 
1757,  and  entered  the  Colonial  army,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Red  Bank, 
New  Jersey.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  most  influential  busi- 
ness men  of  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  Salem  county,  where  he  owned 
several  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  has  since  been  divided  into  a  great 
many  farms.  He  came  from  Mannington  township  in  1809  and  resided 
near  the  village  of  Salem.  He  was  a  man  of  splendid  physique,  possessed 
of  great  power  and  endurance  and  energy,  with  a  well  balanced  mind  of 
extraordinary  breadth.  He  was  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  this 
county  at  that  time  and  occupied  an  enviable  place  in  the  affections  of  the 
people.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  deacon  and  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Salem  up  to  his  eightieth  year,  when  he  received  the  call  to  come 
up  higher  on  February  9,  1837.  His  wife  died  March  19,  1825,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years. 

William  Johnson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  October  12,  1788, 
and  was  one  of  the  children  born  to  James  and  Christenah  Johnson.  He  at 
one  time  was  engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck 


74 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HTSrORV  OF   THE   FIRST 


townshi]).  on  tlu-  farm  now  owned  hy  Mrs.  James  Swing  Johnson,  and  later 
moved  to  Talbot  county,  ^Maryland,  where  he  purchased  heavily  of  farm 
lands  and  mill  ])roperty  and  carried  on  an  extensive  commerce.  While 
taking  a  cargo  of  lumber  to  market  in  Baltimore  in  1853  he  was  accident- 
ally drowned,  and  he  is  still  remembered  by  some  of  the  older  inhabitants 
as  an  energetic  worker  and  a  man  of  splendid  principles.  He  was  married 
April  25.  1810.  to  Miss  Margaretta  Lambson,  who  departed  this  life  May 
12,  1866.  She  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Thomas  Lambson.  who  came 
from  England  in  i6go  and  settled  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township.  Their 
offspring  were  thirteen  in  number  and  were  as  follows:  Isabella  L.,  born 
July  3,  181 1 ;  Rebecca,  born  November  23.  1812.  died  January  8.  1887; 
Christianna.  born  May  16.  1814;  Mary  J.,  born  June  18,  1816;  James  Swing, 
our  subject;  William  Lambson,  born  March  23,  1821,  and  died  February  17, 
1843;  Ephraim  Loyd,  born  November  3,  1822,  and  died  October  13,  1843: 
Edward  M.,  born  April  28,  1824,  and  died  November  25,  1871 :  John,  born 
January  13,  1826.  and  died  October  2;^,  1871;  Margaretta,  born  INIarch  19, 
1827.  and  is  now  Mrs.  Flanigan;  Robert  Dunlap,  born  September  19,  1828, 
and  died  February  14,  1880;  Ferdinand,  born  December  3,  1831.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Pennsylvania:  and  Charles,  borii  July  18,  1835,  is  a  resident  of  Vir- 
ginia.    The  father  died  September  3,  1853. 

James  Swing  Johnson  left  his  native  country  in  early  manhood  and  located 
for  a  time  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  made  considerable  money.  From 
there  he  went  to  Caseyville,  Kentucky,  wlierc  he  was  for  four  years  the 
manager  of  the  Kentucky  Coal  Company,  in  which  he  was  a  stockholder. 
During  these  years  his  heart  turned  longingly  to  the  home  of  his  youth;  so 
he  closed  up  his  business  in  such  a  manner  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  make 
his  home  once  more  in  old  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  Arri\ing  here,  he 
purchased  the  old  homestead  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township  and  took 
up  his  residence  there  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  offered  a  good  posi- 
tion as  the  manager  of  the  Keystone  Lumber  Company,  and  in  order  to 
properly  manage  this  business  he  rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  He  once  more  took  up  his  resi- 
dence on  the  farm  and  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits  until  1888. 
when  he  moved  to  Salem,  where  he  died  two  years  later. 

He  was  married  on  October  11.  1854.  to  Sarah  Lindzey,  a  daughter  of 
John  Lindzey.  and  they  had  three  children,  concerning  whom  we  observe 
that  William,  born  September  15,  1855.  is  a  farmer  and  married  Marion,  a 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Sarah  Harris,  by  whom  he  had  three  children, — 
James,  Josephine  and  Howard.  John  Lindzey,  born  January  20,  1857,  is  a 
farmer  near  the  old  home;  he  married  Catherine,  a  daughter  of  Casper  W. 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY 


75 


Acton,  and  tlieir  children  are  Racliel  Acton  and  .\rthur  Lindzev:  and 
Charles  Moorhead,  who  was  horn  January  27i.  1858,  and  is  a  farmer,  mar- 
ried Lydia,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  Grier.  Their  children  are 
W'etherell.  Rebecca.  Ferdinand  and  Helen.  Mr.  Johnson  had  been  on  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  First  Baptist  church  for  very  many  years,  and  his 
death  was  considered  a  personal  loss  to  each  member  of  that  organization, 
all  of  whom  knew  and  appreciated  the  sterling  worth  of  the  man.  He  held 
a  number  of  township  offices  and  was  accounted  a  man  whose  public  and 
private  life  was  above  reproach. 


CLAYTON  D.  TICK. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs  to  a  family  that  has  long  been  iden- 
tified with  ]\Ionroe  township.  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  their  history 
in  this  country  dating  beyond  the  Revolutionary  period.  Nine  brothers  of 
the  name  of  Tice  came  from  France  to  America  in  Colonial  times  and  settled 
in  New  Jersey,  and  from  one  of  them  is  Clayton  D.  Tice  descended.  Major 
John  Tice,  his  great-grandfather,  earned  his  title  in  the  Revolutionarv  war. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  vicinity  of  Williamstown,  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land  here,  and  from  his  land  sold  a  great  deal  of  timber  which 
was  used  in  shipbuilding.  His  son.  Franklin  Davenport  Tice.  was  born 
here  and  passed  his  life  at  this  place,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
Among  his  children  was  a  son,  Mark  N.,  born  on  his  farm  June  12,  1829,  and 
who  is  still  living  here,  his  active  years  having  been  spent  in  work  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  farming.  Mark  N.  Tice  served  one  term  as  Free- 
holder in  his  township,  and  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which 
he  has  long  been  identified,  he  has  served  in  various  official  capacities,  also 
being  active  in  Sunday  school  work,  filling  the  ofBce  of  superintendent.  He 
was  married  June  26,  1855,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Davis,  daughter  of  John  Davis, 
of  Cumberland  county,  this  State:  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Clayton  D..  whose  name  introduces  this  arti- 
cle: William  J.,  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother  Clayton  D.:  Nettie  R., 
wife  of  Amos  Armstrong  of  Downer.  New  Jersey:  Paris  T..  of  Glassboro, 
New  Jersey;  and  Mulford,  of  Williamstown. 

Clayton  D.  Tice  was  born  at  Williamstown,  New  Jersey.  December  22. 
1858.  He  attended  the  country  schools  in  his  early  boyhood  and  when 
only  twelve  years  old  began  working  out  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand, 
receiving  as  wages  $5.00  per  month.  He  always  made  it  a  point,  however, 
to  lay  up  a  little  of  his  scant  earnings  each  year,  and  in  this  way  he  got  his 


76  BIOGRAI'HICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   FIRST 

start  in  life.  He  was  never  idle,  ttn-ned  readily  from  (inc  thing  to  another 
whenever  opportunity  offered  for  him  to  better  his  condition,  and  from  a 
poor  boy  working  at  $5.00  per  month  he  has  pushed  his  way  up  to  a  position 
of  independence.  From  1888  for  a  period  of  three  years  he  was  employed 
as  fireman  on  a  railroad  engine.  Previous  to  this.  March  25.  1885.  he 
purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  lived,  and  on  which  he  has  built  a 
comfortable  residence,  replacing  the  small  house  on  it  at  the  time  of  pur- 
chase. In  connection  with  his  farming  operations  he  runs  a  thresher  and 
sawmill  and  sells  charcoal  and  cord  wood,  dealing  extensively  in  the  latter. 
His  sales  to  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  amount  to  $200  per  month. 
He  ships  to  various  points,  including  Philadelphia,  and  his  total  sales  aver- 
age no  less  than  $10,000  per  year. 

Mr.  Tice  was  married  April  25,  1885.  to  Miss  Elmira  Lollo.  a  native'of 
\\'illiamstown,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Lollo.  They  have  two  children, 
John  D.  and  Hazel  V. 


WILLL\M  H.  :\IcCULLOUGH. 

As  a  leading  citizen  and  prominent  member  of  numerous  fraternal  order? 
of  Swedesboro,  as  well  as  for  his  record  as  a  brave  soldier  in  the  civil  war. 
this  gentleman  deserves  a  place  in  this  historical  work.  His  native  city  is 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  born  December  5,  1845,  and  is  the  only  child 
of  Hugh  and  Eliza  (Rainey)  McCullough.  The  father  was  born  in  Scotland, 
whence  he  went  to  Ireland,  and  there  married.  He  came  to  the  L^nited 
States  in  1838.  settling  first  in  Philadelphia  and  afterward  removing  to 
Swedesboro,  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  the  remainder  of  his 
life.    He  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.    His  wife  died  in  1871. 

William  H.  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  and 
Swedesboro  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when,  although  a  mere  l)oy  in  years, 
his  patriotism  was  aroused  by  the  call  to  arms,  and  September  2,  1861.  he 
enlisted,  in  Brooklyn,  as  a  private  in  Company  D.  Forty-eighth  New  York 
Volunteers.  He  sen-ed  throughout  the  war.  re-enlisting  at  Hilton  Head. 
South  Carolina.  December  21,  1863,  and  being  discharged  by  reason  of 
wounds  received  in  action  May  12,  1865,  while  in  the  general  army  hospital 
on  David's  Island,  where  he  had  been  sent  on  account  of  said  wound  received 
at  the  battle  of  Strawberry  Plains,  August  16,  1864.  After  returning  home, 
Mr.  McCullough  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed  until  1883,  and  at 
that  time,  as  a  result  of  the  wounds  recei\-ed  while  in  the  army,  his  health 
became  impaired,  and  he  was  oljliged  to  find  some  less  laborious  employ- 
ment.   Since  then  he  has  been  a  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  building  material,  such 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  yy 

as  lumber,  brick,  stone,  cement,  lime  and  hardware,  and  has  made  it  finan- 
cially s.uccessful. 

On  December  i6,  1869.  Mr.  jNIcCullough  was  married  to  Miss  Marv 
^IcDowell.  a  daughter  of  David  JMcDowell,  of  Woolwich  township.  Glou- 
cester county.  They  have  had  six  children,  as  follows:  Hope,  who  became 
the  wife  of  William  Black,  of  Swedesboro,  now  deceased;  Eliza,  who  mar- 
ried William  C.  Richardson,  a  farmer  of  New  Bridge,  this  county;  Thomas, 
a  fireman  on  the  West  Jersey  &  Seashore  Railroad;  Hugh,  employed  in  his 
father's  store;  William  H.,  a  fireman  on  the  West  Jersey  &  Seashore  Rail- 
road; David  M.,  attending  school;  and  Richard,  who  died  when  one  year  old. 

As  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  executive  ability  Mr.  McCullough  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  townsmen.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Lake  Park 
Cemeterv-  Company,  a  stockholder  in  the  Swedesboro  National  Bank,  of 
Swedesboro,  also  in  the  Swedesboro  Heat,  Light  &  Power  Company,  and 
for  sixteen  years  has  been  a  member  and  director  of  the  local  Building  & 
Loan  Association.  He  was  also  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of  the 
Swedesboro  Glass  W'orks,  and  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers.  At 
the  reorganization  of  the  company  he  was  one  of  the  four  who  bought  out 
the  others,  becoming  its  business  manager,  and  he  served  in  the  latter  capac- 
ity for  two  years,  until  it  became  firmly  established,  when  he  sold  his  share 
to  the  other  three  partners,  thus  securing  to  the  town  this  industry  that  has 
been  so  valuable  to  it. 

For  thirty-three  years  he  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Presbvterian  church, 
and  has  been  the  superintendent  of  the  Sundav-school  for  nearlv  the  same 
length  of  time.  He  is  perhaps  the  best  known  man  in  the  county  in  the 
fraternal  organizations,  in  all  of  which  he  has  been  an  acti\e  worker,  and  has 
filled  important  offices.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1884.  in  the  Woodstown 
Lodge,  No.  138,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  1886  was  the  chief  organizer  and  the 
first  worshipful  master  of  Swedesboro  Lodge,  No.  157.  He  is  a  past  grand 
of  Osceola  Lodge,  No.  75,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  Swedesboro,  and  for  sixteen  con- 
secutive years  its  secretary,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  Home  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

From  the  "Knights'  Jewel"  we  quote  the  following: 

"We  present  to  our  readers  this  month  a  fac-siiuile  rejiroduction  of  the 
features  of  one  of  the  supreme  representatives  of  the  "Mosquito"  state. 
Brother  McCullough  has  always  been  an  earnest  and  indefatigable  worker 
in  the  Pythian  cause.  He  was  initiated  in  Viola  Lodge,  No.  40.  on  Jamiary 
23,  1872.  In  1873  he  was  elected  master  at  arms  of  the  lodge  and  then  suc- 
cessively to  the  stations  of  prelate,  vice-chancellor  and  chancellor  com- 
mander.   At  the  convention  of  the  grand  lodge  held  in  1876  he  received  the 


78  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

grand  lodge  rank  and  has  not  missed  a  convention  of  that  body  since.  In 
1878  he  represented  his  lodge  in  grand  lodge,  and  in  1879  was  appointed 
depnty  grand  chancellor  and  reappointed  in  1880,  during  both  years  con- 
tinuing to  represent  his  subordinate  lodge  in  the  conventions  of  the  grand 
lodge.  In  1 88 1  he  was  elected  grand  master  at  arms  and  passed  regularly 
to  the  stations  of  grand  prelate,  grand  vice  chancellor  and  grand  chancellor, 
receiving  the  supreme  lodge  rank  at  Washington  in  1894.  In  the  grand 
lodge  of  Xew  Jersey  he  has  also  held  leading  positions  on  important  com- 
mittees and  his  services  were  rewarded  in  1889  by  being  elected  supreme 
representative,  in  which  oflfice  he  is  now  serving." 

Mr.  McCullough  is  also  a  past  master  workman  of  Swedesboro  Lodge. 
No.  28,  .\.  O.  U.  W'..  and  is  now  the  grand  master  workman  of  the  state  of 
New  Jersey.  He  was  the  first  commander  of  John  A.  Dix  Post,  No.  19. 
G.  A.  R..  and  has  held  that  position  for  the  past  five  years.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Regiment,  New  York  State  \'olunteer  \'eter- 
ans"  Association,  and  past  chief  of  Coeur  de  Leon  Castle,  K.  of  G.,  No.  36,  of 
Swedesboro.  He  belongs  to  the  volunteer  fire  department,  and  is  serving 
his  second  year  as  its  chief.' 

In  politics  Mr.  McCullough  is  a  Republican,  and  served  as  clerk  of  his 
township  from  1881  to  1891.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Madison  district  school 
until  his  removal  to  Swedesboro,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  trustee  of 
the  latter  district.  He  also  served  five  years  as  district  clerk  and  is  at  pres- 
ent the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  State  Industrial  School  for 
Girls  at  Trenton.  In  all  these  positions  of  honor  and  trust  Mr.  McCul- 
lough  has  faithfully  performed  his  duties  and  earned  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  his  associates. 


ANDREW  J.  TOM  LIN. 


In  all  life's  relations. — in  business,  as  a  member  of  the  navy  and  in  politi- 
cal oftices. — Andrew  Jackson  Tomlin  has  so  ably  and  faithfully  discharged 
his  duties  that  he  has  ever  won  high  commendation.  Success  has  attended 
his  industrial  efforts  and  he  has  won  honor  in  militarv-  and  political  life, 
yet  above  all  he  has  gained  that  good  name  which  is  rather  to  be  chosen 
than  great  riches,  and  Cape  May  county  numbers  him  among  her  valued 
and  representative  citizens.  He  is  now  living  in  Goshen,  where  he  is  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  farming,  owning  and  operating  four  hundred  acres 
of  rich  land. 

Mr.  Tomlin  was  born  in  the  town  which  is  now  his  home.  March  15. 
1845,  3nd  is  a  son  of  John  and  Judith  (Cresse)  Tomlin.  His  grandfather. 
John  Tomlin.  was  an  agriculturist,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  resided  upon 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  79 

what  is  known  as  the  Tomlin  farm  on  Maurice  river.  His  pohtical  sup- 
port was  given  the  Whig  part3\  He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years, 
and  liis  wife,  Mrs.  Judith  Tomhn,  passed  away  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  three- 
score years  and  ten.  They  were  the  parents  of  seventeen  children,  of  whom 
five  died  in  earlv  life,  the  others  being  John,  Matthew,  Elizalieth,  Hannah, 
David,  Mary,  Catherine,  Aaron,  Thompson,  Job,  Isaiah  and  Ann. 

John  Tomlin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Swedesboro,  New 
Jersey,  February  8,  1798,  and  in  the  common  schools  acquired  his  educa- 
tion. After  entering  upon  his  business  career  he  devoted  his  energies  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  owned  a  farm  upon  which  the  city  of  \''ine- 
land  has  since  been  Ijuilt  and  made  a  specialty  of  raising  cattle,  having  as 
many  as  two  hundred  head.  He  continued  in  the  latter  enterprise  until 
1864,  and  throughout  his  life  he  followed  farming,  being  the  owner  of  an 
extensive  tract  of  land  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  near  Goshen. 
His  political  support  was  given  the  Democracy  and  several  times  he  served 
as  the  coroner.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Judith 
Cresse.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  William,  who  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Cumberland  count}-  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and  at  one  time 
served  as  a  freeholder,  married  Phoebe  Steelman,  and  their  children  were 
Hannah,  Jonas,  Sidney,  Edward,  Emma, ,  Lizzie  and  Linda.  Eliza,  the 
second  of  the  family,  died  in  infancy.  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Charles 
Eldredge,  who  was  a  carpenter  of  Cold  Spring  and  afterward  engaged  in 
farming  at  Shiloh,  New  Jersey.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldredge 
were  Harry,  Linda,  Charles,  Jennie,  Judith,  Hattie,  Abbie  and  Paul.  Man 
garet  was  twice  married.  She  first  l)ecame  the  wife  of  John  T.  Allen,  and 
their  daughter,  Kate,  died  in  infancy.  Her  second  husband  was  James 
Newcomb,  by  whom  she  had  two  children, — Emma  and  Frank, — the  former 
the  wife  of  Jesse  McFIenry,  assistant  superintendent  of  the  glass  factory  in 
Millville  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  Martha,  the  fifth  child, 
became  the  wife  of  Thomas  T.  Wales.  Sarah  is  the  widow  of  Lott  Corn- 
wall, who  was  a  farmer  of  Goshen,  and  afterw.ard  engaged  in  merchandising 
at  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey.  He  died  leaving  a  son,  John  T.,  who  now  owns 
and  operates  a  gristmill  in  Fairton,  New  Jersey.  Judith  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years.  Albert,  a  practicing  physiciaq  of  Bridge- 
ton,  married  Lamson  Most  and  liad  one  child.  John  Franklin 
married  Louisa  Morrell,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Morrell.  During  the 
civil  war  he  became  the  captain  of  Company  1.  Twenty-fifth  New  Jersey 
Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  in  a  numl:)er 
of  other  engagements.  On  the  expiration  of  his  nine-months'  term  of  en- 
listment he  returned  home  and  engaged  in  teaching  school,  but  later  he 


8o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE   FIRST 

resigned  his  position  as  teaclier  and  once  more  entered  his  country's  ser- 
vice, becoming-  the  captain  of  Company  M,  Third  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  in 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle-raising.  He  now  re- 
sides in  Green  Ridge,  Pettis  county,  that  state.  His  children  are:  Edward; 
Emma;  Morrell,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  Second  Missouri  Regiment  in  the 
Spanish-American  war;  Francis;  and  Harold,  who  is  serving  with  the 
United  States  volunteers  in  the  Philippines,  a  member  of  the  Thirty-second 
Missouri  Regiment.  Mary,  the  next  member  of  the  family  of  John  and 
Judith  Tomlin,  was  born  in  1843  and  married  Richard  H.  Townsend,  a  sol- 
dier in  Company  B,  Tenth  New  Jersey  Infantry.  He  afterward  became  a 
member  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment  and  was  shot  through  the  heart  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  while  leading  an  assault  on  a  barn.  He  was  then 
serving  as  first  lieutenant.  His  children  are  Edwin,  who  was  born  in  1862; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Springer,  by  whom  she  has  four  children, — 
Frank,  May,  Clara  and  Morris.  Andrew  J.  is  the  next  of  the  family.  Ju- 
lietta,  the  youngest,  died  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  John 
Tomlin,  the  father  of  these  children,  died  June  i,  1878.  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years,  and  his  wife  passed  aAvay  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  forty-two 
years. 

Andrew  J.  Tomlin  of  this  review  acquired  a  good  practical  English 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Goshen,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  ran  away  in  order  to  enlist  in  his 
country's  service.  Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism  which  he  could  not 
quell  he  entered  the  United  States  marine  corps  at  Philadelphia,  and  for  a 
time  served  as  sergeant  of  marines  on  the  United  States  steamship.  R.  R. 
Cuyler,  in  blockading  the  harbor  of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  He  was 
afterward  on  the  Wabash  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  for  valorous 
conduct  in  that  engagement  recei\'ed  a  medal  of  honor,  consisting  of  a 
bronze  star,  suspended  from  a  bronze  anchor,  upon  the  reverse  side  of  which 
appears  the  following  inscription:  "Personal  Valor.  Andrew  J.  Tomlin, 
Corporal  of  Marines,  U.  S.  S.  Wabash.  Fort  Fisher.  January  15,  1865." 
Accompanying  the  medal  was  the  following  letter: 

\\"ashington,  D.  C.  July  25,   1866. 
Sir:     I  have  the  pleasure  of  transmitting  herewith  the  medal  of  honor 
awarded  to  you  by  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  in  general  order  No.  39  (dated 
June  22,  1865),  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  whilst  serving  on  board 
the  U.  S.  S.  Wabash  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Fisher. 
V^erv  respectfullv.  etc., 

GIDEON  WELLES, 
Secretarv  of  the  Navv. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  '  8i 

After  the  engagement  at  Fort  Fisher  the  Wabash  went  out  of  commis- 
sion and  Mr.  Tomlin  was  transferred  to  the  Mohongo  and  sent  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast,  where  lie  spent  sixteen  months.  In  1866  he  returned  home,  but 
again  enlisted  and  was  sent  to  the  Mediterranean  on  the  United  States  sloop 
of  war,  Plymouth,  on  which  he  spent  three  years.  That  vessel  acted  as 
escort  to  the  Monarch,  on  which  was  brought  home  the  remains  of  George 
Peabody,  the  great  philanthropist.  Mr.  Tomlin  was  in  European  waters 
at  the  time  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  and  while  thus  engaged  visited  all 
the  various  places  of  interest  along  the  Mediterranean.  There  were  eleven 
vessels  in  the  fleet  sent  to  that  sea  to  protect  American  interests  there. 
Among  other  places  which  he  visited  were  Jerusalem.  Bethlehem  and 
Bethany,  and  he  now  possesses  a  certification  of  visitation  to  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Sepulchre,  in  Jerusalem,  having  spent  five  days  in  that  city. 

On  his  retirement  from  the  navy,  where  he  made  a  most  creditable  and 
honorable  record,  Mr.  Tomlin  returned  to  Goshen,  Cape  May  county, 
where  he  has  since  engaged  in  farming  four  hundred  acres  of  rich  land,  all 
of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  yields  to  the  owner  excel- 
lent returns  for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestow^s  upon  it.  While  his  life  has 
been  a  busy  one.  owing  to  the  extent  of  his  agricultural  operations,  he  has 
yet  found  time  to  aid  in  the  public  service  and  has  filled  a  number  of  of- 
fices. He  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  has  been  jur}-  commissioner 
for  one  year,  and  was  the  sheriff  of  Cape  May  county  for  three  years,  from 
1895  to  i8g8.  For  seventeen  years  he  has  served  on  the  township  com- 
mittee and  has  been  its  chairman  for  fourteen  years.  For  a  similar  period 
he  was  a  school  director,  and  by  his  faithfulness  in  all  these  offices  he  has 
promoted  the  welfare  of  the  community  with  which  he  is  connected. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1873,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Tomlin 
and  Miss  Sallie  C.  Sullivan,  a  daughter  of  Job  Sullivan.  To  them  has  been 
born  a  daughter,  Judith,  who  is  at  home.  The  household  is  noted  for  its 
hospitality  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tomlin  and  their  daughter  have  many  warm 
friends  in  this  community.  Our  subject  is  connected  with  various  benevo- 
lent and  fraternal  organizations,  belonging  to  Arbutus  Lodge.  Xo.  70,  A.  F. 
&  A.  '\l.:  to  Hereford  Lodge,  No.  108,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  to  the  Junior  Order 
of  L'nited  American  ^Mechanics,  being  connected  with  Goshen  Lodge,  No. 
91.  He  also  maintains  pleasant  relations  with  his  old  army  comrades  who 
"wore  the  blue"  in  the  civil  war  through  his  membership  in  John  ISIecray 
Post,  No.  40.  G.  A.  R.  Patriotism  has  ever  characterized  his  relation  to 
his  countr\-,  and  his  service  in  the  navy  was  no  more  faithful  and  loyal  than 
was  his  performance  of  the  duties  of  civil  office.     He  is  now  de\-oting  his 


82  BIOGR.-iPHJCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

energies  to  his  farm,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  successful  agricul- 
turists and  substantial  citizens  of  the  community. 


ALFRED  COOPER. 


-Alfred  Cooper,  of  Cape  May  Court  House,  is  a  son  of  George  B.  and 
Annie  Elizabeth  (Henderson)  Cooper,  and  was  born  in  Kinderhook,  Col- 
umbia county.  New  A'ork,  September  6,  1859.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is 
a  representative  of  an  old  American-Quaker  family,  while  on  the  maternal 
side  he  is  of  English  lineage.  At  a  very  early  day  the  Coopers  resided  in 
Burlington  county.  New  Jersey.  The  grandfather,  Joseph  Cooper,  became 
a  dry  goods  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  carrying  on  business  on  Market 
street.  He  made  his  home  in  that  city  till  his  death,  but  conducted  business 
enterprises  elsewhere,  and  was  the  owner  of  very  extensive  landed  interests 
in  this  state.  He  often  exchanged  goods  for  land,  and  through  his  well 
directed  efforts  and  enterprise  became  a  wealthy  man.  His  political  support 
was  given  to  the  Whig  party,  and  in  religious  belief  he  was  an  Episcopalian, 
belonging  to  Christ  church,  in  which  he  held  a  number  of  ofificial  positions. 
He  married  Ann  Veree,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Wil- 
liam, Joseph,  deceased,  Mary,  Colin  Campbell,  George  B.,  Alfred,  Thomas 
Franklin  and  Joseph,  the  second  of  the  name. 

James  Henderson,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1800,  in  Warwick,  England.  His  father  was  a  British  otificer  in  the  English 
navy.  James  Henderson  came  to  the  United  States,  with  his  wife  and  two 
children,  Francis  and  Sarah,  in  1822  and  located  in  Cohoes,  New  York. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Valatie,  New  York,  but  spent  his  last  days  in 
Millville,  New  Jersey.  He  was  the  superintendent  of  the  Valatie  Mills  and 
subsequently  operated  a  woolen  mill  in  Valatie,  with  his  son  Francis,  but  his 
last  days  were  spent  in  retirement  from  labor.  He  married  a  Miss  Johnston 
and  they  had  a  son,  Francis,  who  married  Christina  Schemerhorn,  and  after 
her  death  wedded  Mary  Prussian.  He  was  a  woolen  manufacturer  and  con- 
ducted an  extensive  business.  Sarah  Henderson,  the  second  child,  became 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Preston  Van  Vleck,  of  Columbia  county.  New  York,  who 
served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  civil  war  and  died  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Margaret 
is  also  deceased.  Ann  Elizalieth  became  the  mother  of  our  subject.  Thalia 
has  also  passed  away.  Mary  is  the  deceased  wife  of  John  HofYman,  a  manu- 
facturer of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York;  and  Delia  is  deceased.  The  father  of 
these  children  died  in  1888,  and  the  mother's  death  occurred  in  iSfio.  when 
she  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years. 


^^-^.S^i/^ 


a. 


^1*-^ 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEIV   JERSEY.  83 

George  B.  Cooper  acquired  liis  ediicatinn  in  the  Friends'  scliools  of 
Pliiladelphia  and  put  aside  liis  textdiooks  in  order  to  enter  liis  father's  store, 
where  lie  was  employed  as  a  clerk  until  1850.  when  his  health  failed  him 
and  he  went  to  Port  Elizaheth,  Xew  Jersey.  There,  in  connection  with 
Charles  Townsend,  he  [nirchased  the  Getinger  Glass  Works,  which  they 
operated  for  several  years  under  the  firm  name  of  Cooper  &  Townsend. 
Subsecjuently  Mr.  Cooper  engaged  in  dealing  in  lumber  and  builders'  mater- 
ials, at  Millville,  handling  Jersey  timber.  That  ])roved  a  profitable  industry 
and  he  conducted  it  until  his  death.  His  political  support  was  first  given  to 
the  Whig  party  and  afterward  to  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  warm 
admirer  of  Henry  Clay  and  was  a  leading  factor  in  the  political  circles  of 
his  state.  After  a  hotly  contested  election  he  was  chosen  clerk  of 
the  New  Jersey  Assembly,  serving  in  the  years  1864-5.  B}-  ap])ointment  of 
Judge  John  T.  Nixon  he  held  the  office  of  United  States  commissioner  for 
several  vears.  Of  Christ  Ejjiscopal  church  he  was  a  faithful  and  valued 
member,  was  active  in  building  the  church  in  Milhille  and  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  its  \estry.  He  died  in  1873  '^"'^'  '"  '^'^  death  the  community  lost  one 
of  its  most  prominent,  esteemed  and  valued  citizens.  His  widow,  who  was 
born  January  9,  1837,  died  January  19,  1900. 

Alfred  Cooper  attended  the  public  schools  in  his  earlv  vouth,  later  was 
a  student  in  a  private  school  at  Valatie.  New  York,  and  in  Pierce's  Business 
College.  He  entered  upon  his  business  career  in  a  printing-ofiice  in  Mill- 
ville, and  when  he  had  thoroughly  mastered  the  trade  in  all  its  departments 
he  opened  a  job  printing-office  on  his  own  account  in  the  same  city.  In  1879 
he  established  the  Cape  May  County  Gazette,  at  Cape  May  Court  House, 
the  first  issue  of  the  paper  making  its  appearance  on  the  6th  of  March,  1880. 
It  is  a  weekly  journal  published  each  Friday,  a  four-page,  eight-column 
sheet,  tAventy-si.x  by  forty  inches.  It  is  Reiniblican  in  its  political  proclivi- 
ties and  is  devoted  to  the  arh-ancement  of  the  party  and  the  progress  and  up- 
building of  the  county.  It  is  an  excellent  advertising  medium,  receives 
liberal  patronage  in  that  line  and  has  a  circulation  of  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty.  Mr.  Cooper  has  built  a  job  printing-office  in  this  place  and 
has  also  erected  a  comfortable  residence.  He  has  made  extensive  invest- 
ments in  real  estate,  his  landed  possessions  aggregating  several  thousand 
acres  in  Cumberland,  Cape  May  and  Atlantic  counties.  New  Jersey,  and  in 
the  Catskill  mountains  of  New  York. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  1891,  Mr.  Cooper  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Fabelle.  a  daughter  of  Charles  P.  Smith,  and  they  have  one  child,  Annie 
Elizabeth.  Mr.  Cooper  is  connected  with  a  number  of  civic  societies,  hold- 
ing membership  in  Arbutus  Lodge,  No.  170,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  which  he  has 


84  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   I-IRST 

served  as  master;  Richmond  Chapter,  Xo.  22.  R.  A.  M.;  Olivet  Commandery. 
No.  10,  Knights  Templar;  in  Friendship  Lodge,  Xo.  45,  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen;  and  in  Hereford  Lodge,  Xo.  108,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  last  named  and  is 
one  of  its  leading  members.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Mechanics  and 
Laborers'  Building  &  Loan  Association.  He  is  taking  an  active  interest  in 
local  political  affairs,  but  has  never  been  an  ofifice-seeker,  although  for  sev- 
eral years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  county  board  of  elections  and  formu- 
lated the  list  of  questions  for  the  examination  of  candidates  for  the  board. 
He  is  distinctively  American  in  thought  and  feeling  and  his  efforts  in  behalf 
of  the  public  interests  of  his  county  have  been  practical  and  followed  by  very 
desirable  results.  In  his  business  interests  be  has  earned  for  himself  an 
enviable  reputation  and  is  known  for  his  prompt  and  honorable  methods  of 
dealing  which  have  gained  him  the  deserved  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 
He  is  pleasant  and  agreeable  in  manner,  affable  with  those  whom  be  meets 
and  has  the  happy  faculty  of  inspiring  strong  friendships. 


HARRY  LAMBERT. 


For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  this  resident  of  Salem  has  Ijeen 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  substantial  citizens.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Rachel  (Tyler)  Lambert,  and  was  bom  June  30,  1857,  on  a  farm  two  and 
a  half  miles  distant  from  his  present  residence,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Ouinton  township.  His  great-grandfather,  Benjamin  Lambert,  left  Eng- 
land with  a  party  of  friends,  among  whom  were  Oakfords,  Coopers  and 
Charles,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  settled  in  Salem  county,  which 
has  since  been  the  home  of  the  Lambert  family.  He  married  a  Miss 
Holmes,  of  Greenwich,  and  located  in  Ouinton  township,  where  he  reared 
four  sons, — Isaac,  William,  Joseph  and  John  H.  The  latter  was  born  in 
1799,  and  was  the  only  son  by  a  second  marriage,  and  a  half  brother  to 
Isaac  and  Joseph. 

Reaching  young  manhood  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  few 
terms,  and  after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Butcher,  and  aunt  of  Senator 
James  Butcher,  of  Salem,  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Alloway,  where  he 
built  a  commodious  residence  in  1836.  This  building  was  thought  to  be 
a  home  of  splendor  for  those  days  and  continued  to  be  the  largest  but  two 
in  the  village  for  more  than  thirteen  years.  In  1849  ^^e  moved  to  Quinton 
township,  where  he  owned  a  farm,  now  in  the  possession  of  the  widow  of 
his  grandson,   Mrs.   John   Lambert.     At  his   death   he   owned  two   farms 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEIV   JERSEY.  85 

there,  one  of  one  hundred  acres  and  one  of  seventy  acres.  Tliese  farms 
consisted  of  good  land  and  were  kept  in  the  most  perfect  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. When  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Alloway,  he  entered  the  store  of 
Isaac  Reed  as  a  clerk  and  soon  worked  his  way  up  to  the  position  of  junior 
partner  of  the  firm.  This  was  during  the  most  prosperous  days  of  the 
\illage,  and  the  general  countn,-  store  kept  by  Reed  &  Lambert  did  a  flour- 
ishing business  until  he  disposed  of  his  interests  to  a  Mr.  Stretch. 

Mr.  Lambert  was  a  large,  jjortly  man  with  pleasing  personality  and 
genial  manners.  He  was  fond  of  young  people,  dearly  loved  a  good  joke 
and  often  perpetrated  them  on  his  unsuspecting  companions.  He  was  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Alloway  and  a  favorite  in  social  and  business  circles, 
where  he  was  loved  by  his  friends  and  respected  by  all.  For  years  he  was 
a  leader  of  the  U.  A.  C.  Democracy.  He  was  very  decided  in  his  views  and 
gave  free  expression  to  his  convictions,  yet  when  convinced  that  he  was  in 
the  wrong  admitted  the  fact  readily.  He  stood  for  election  to  ofifice  against 
Joseph  Lockwood  in  1847  and  defeated  him.  He  also  filled  about  every 
office  in  the  township,  besides  being  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders 
and  associate  judge.  He  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1844.  then 
called  the  constitutional  caucus  convention,  and  also  represented  his  dis- 
trict as  senator.  In  1837  he  suffered  a  defeat  for  councilman  by  thirteen 
votes,  and  was  again  defeated  in  1838,  but  in  1839  was  elected  to  the  office. 
His  death  occurred  suddenly  from  apoplexy  near  Ouinton.  in  1868.  as  he 
was  driving  along  the  road;  and  his  demise  was  considered  a  calamity. 
His  wife  reached  the  age  of  seventy-four  years  and  had  five  children:  John, 
the  father  of  our  subject;  Elizabeth,  who  married  James  J.  Tyler,  a  resident 
of  Quinton  township;  Charles,  who  married  Mary  Heritage  and  was  a 
farmer  and  merchant  in  Salem  until  his  death;  Harriet,  deceased,  who  mar- 
ried M.  Smith  Davidson,  a  farmer  of  Ouinton  township;  and  Anna  B..  who 
married  Dr.  George  Paullin.  a  practicing  physician  at  Shiloh,  Cumberland 
county,  this  state. 

John  Lambert,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  or  near  Ouinton 
township,  November  16,  1832,  and  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Alloway,  Salem  and  Pennington.  He  afterward  taught  school  in  Ouinton 
and  Sharptown  until  his  marriage,  when  he  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing business  on  Broadway  for  one  year.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  in  Ouinton  township,  where  he  resided  six  years,  when  he 
moved  to  Ouinton  and  assisted  in  starting  the  Quinton  Glass  Works,  oper- 
ated by  Hires,  Lambert  &  Company.  For  six  years  he  continued  in  this 
business  and  then  embarked  in  the  coal,  grain  and  hay  business  at  Salem 
for  several  vears.     Then  with  his  son  he  1)uilt  a  canning  factory  at  Salem, 


86  BiOCRArillCAL   HISTORY   O/'    TUB    TIRST 

whicli  was  conducted  for  five  years.  cmi)loyin<i-  about  one  iuuidred  and 
t\vent\-tive  men  and  women.  Tliis  firm  was  continued  as  John  Lambert  iS: 
Son  up  to  tlio  (leatli  of  the  former.  He  was  a  deacon  of  tlie  First  Baptist 
cluircli  and  an  active  worker  in  all  departments;  and  he  was  a  Democrat, 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trade,  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  owned 
a  farm  also,  which  had  belonged  to  his  father.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Rachel  Tyler,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Harry  and 
Elizabeth  Tyler,  the  wife  of  William  Carpenter.  Jr.,  who  resides  in  this  city. 
Tlie  mother  died  Xovember  8,  1882.  aged  forty-seven  years  and  nine 
months. 

Harry  Laiubert  was  educated  in  the  Salem  Collegiate  Institute,  under 
H.  P.  Davidson,  and  then  l)ecame  associated  with  his  father,  in  1882,  in  the 
canning  of  tomatoes.  He  bad  ])reviously  acted  in  the  capacity  of  clerk 
in  the  ofifice  of  his  father.  He  is  now  an  extensive  packer  of  tomatoes.  In 
1892  he  purchased  the  Chew  &  Bilderback  factory  at  Salem,  which  he 
operates  under  the  name  of  Lambert  &  Company. 

Mr.  Lambert  and  Miss  Marion  Booth  Smith  were  joined  in  wedlock 
December  18.  1895.  She  is  a  daughter  of  J.  J.  G.  Smith,  formerly  a  mer- 
chant of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  but  more  recently  of  Philadelphia.  He 
left  the  south  and  came  to  Philadelphia  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion 
and  died  in  September.  1882,  aged  sixty-five  years.  To  INIr.  and  ]\Irs. 
Lambert  has  been  born  one  child.  John  Holmes.  Mr.  Lambert  is  a  Demo- 
crat, a  trustee  and  director  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and 
one  of  the  vestrymen  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  also  a  prominent 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trade.  As  a  straightforward,  conscientious  man  of 
business  he  has  few  equals,  and  his  honesty  has  won  for  him  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  with  whom  be  has  had  dealings. 


LANGDOX  W.   HARRIS. 

Langdon  W.  Harris,  of  Xewtield.  Gloucester  county.  Xew  Jersey,  was 
born  February  17,  1857.  in  15urlington  county,  this  state,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  \\'.  and  Caroline  M.  (Williams)  Harris.  His  grandfather.  Francis 
A.  Harris,  was  a  son  of  Xathan.iel  Harris,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
fought  with  \Vashington  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  an  able  instructor,  em.- 
ployed  in  college  work.  Francis  A.  was  one  of  Cincinnati's  pioneer  settlers, 
moving  there  from  the  state  of  Kentucky,  where  he  married  Flavia  Lang- 
don. a  Xew  England  school-teacher.     His  son,  Thomas  W.  Harris,  drifted 


COA'GRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  87 

to  Alabama  and  enlisted  in  the  Mexican  war  from  Montgomery,  that  state. 
Returning  after  the  war  to  Montgomery,  he  remained  there  for  several 
years,  engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  He  also  did  considerable  work 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  served  in  the  war  to  suppress  the  great  rebellion,  be- 
ing the  captain  of  Company  F.  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-fourth  Regiment, 
from  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  March,  1868,  he  located  in  Forest 
Grove,  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  the  nominee  of 
the  Prohibition  party  in  1880  for  state  senator.  He  was  a  local  minister  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  his  church  home  being  in  the  Vineland 
organization,  in  which  he  was  a  leading  member.  He  was  also  an  honored 
member  of  the  Masonic  body.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  M.  Williams 
was  honored  by  the  birth  of  three  children:  Annie  E.,  deceased:  Langdon 
W'.:  and  Ella  ^I.,  who  is  unmarried  and  resides  in  \'ineland.  The  father 
died  in  1883  and  the  mother  in  1895.  ,Mrs.  Harris  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Williams  and  a  descendant  of  that  beautiful  character,  Roger  \\'illiams,  of 
early  colonial  fame. 

Langdon  W.  Harris  attended  the  Vineland  Academy  and  later  was  under 
a  private  instructor  who  had  graduated  in  Cambridge  University,  England. 
Leaving  school,  he  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  and  carriage  builder  and 
continued  in  that  business  for  over  twenty  years,  permanently  locating  at 
Newfield  in  1879.  He  then  opened  a  real-estate  and  insurance  office,  which 
he  has  since  conducted  in  a  highly  satisfactory  manner.  In  connection  with 
this  business  he  also  holds  the  offices  of  notary  public  and  commissioner  of 
deeds.  Mr.  Harris  has  been  a  member  of  the  National  Guards  of  New 
Jersey  since  1879,  and  has  served  in  all  the  grades  from  private  to  captain 
in  the  Vineland  company,  being  a  commissioned  officer  since  March,  1889. 
On  June  15,  1900,  he  forwarded  his  resignation  to  the  adjutant  general  of  the 
state,  in  order  to  give  his  undivided  attention  to  the  duties  of  postmaster. 
He  takes  a  prominent  part  in  politics  and  was  nominated  on  the  Republican 
ticket  for  the  assembly  in  1890,  but  was  defeated  by  forty-two  votes  out  of 
nearly  eight  thousand  that  w^ere  cast  in  his  district. 

He  is  a  member  of  Vineland  Lodge,  No.  69,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  citizens  of  Newfield  and  has  contributed  largely 
to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town.  It  was  through  his  influence  that 
the  rug  factory  was  located  here.  This  has  meant  a  good  deal  to  many  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  furnishing,  as  it  does,  employment  to  over  one 
himdred  hands.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  under  the  McKinley  admin- 
istration, and  the  postoffice  here  is  fitted  out  and  conducted  in  an  up-to-date 
manner. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Marv  E.  Wilkins,  a  daughter  of  George  W. 


88  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   FIRST 

Wilkins,  of  Camden  county,  on  July  15,  1886.     Four  children  have  blessed 
this  marriage, — Hilda  M.,  Ada  F.,  Mary  E.  and  Langdon  W.,  Jr. 


WILLIAM  HALL  ACTON. 

In  analyzing  the  life  record  of  this  gentleman  we  lind  that  the  two  chief 
elements  in  his  success  have  been  perseverance  and  keen  discrimination. 
These  have  made  him  one  of  the  prosperous  citizens  of  Salem,  and  to-day  he 
is  the  owner  of  much  valuable  property,  which  has  been  partly  acquired 
through  his  own  efforts. 

He  was  born  in  Salem,  April  20,  1832,  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Lucy  .\nn 
(Bilderback)  Acton.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Acton,  was  likewise  a  native 
of  Salem,  and  the  family  have  long  been  prominently  and  honorably  con- 
nected with  the  histor)'  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Isaac  Acton,  the  father, 
was  bom  in  Haddonfield,  New  Jersey,  and  with  his  parents  moved  to  Salem 
in  early  life.  In  his  youth  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  afterward 
conducted  a  factory  and  machine  shop  and  manufactured  agricultural  imple- 
ments on  Grant  street,  near  the  corner  at  Fifth  street.  Subsequently  he 
removed  his  factory  to  Broadway  and  abandoned  blacksmithing,  but  con- 
ducted the  other  lines  of  his  business  in  connection  with  milling.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bennett  &  Acton,  and  they  built  up  a  very 
extensive  trade,  thus  controlling  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  town. 
Mr.  Acton  died  in  1895,  in  the  ninety-sixth  year  of  his  age,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  1800.  His  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  se\enty  years.  In 
his  political  views  he  was  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  his  fellow  townsmen, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  frequently  called  him  to  public  office. 
He  acceptably  served  as  the  county  clerk,  was  a  member  of  the  l)oard  of  free- 
holders, one  of  the  incorporators  of  Salem,  and  a  member  of  its  first  council. 
At  all  times  he  gave  his  influence  in  support  of  the  measures  which  he  be- 
lieved would  prove  a  public  benefit.  He  belonged  to  the  Hicksite  Society 
of  Friends,  and  his  life  was  honorable  and  upright,  commanding  the  esteem 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

William  H.  Acton,  of  this  review,  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof 
and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  his  father's  shop.  Subsequently  lie 
engaged  in  farming  in  Mannington  township,  and  was  connected  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  the  county  until  1894,  when  he  came  to  Salem. 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  judiciously  in\estc(l  his  capital 
and  is  to-day  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  in  the  county,  in  addition  to 
desirable  property  in  Salem.  He  is  also  interested  as  a  partner  in  the  owner- 
ship of  another  farm,  in  Mannington  township. 


'^'i^^ 


7r^  A^  ^. 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  89 

In  1853  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Acton  and  Mary  H.  Andrews, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Philadelphia,  by  Mayor  Gilpin.  They  have 
the  following  children  and  grandchildren:  Luc\-  .\nn.  wife  of  Berkley  Law- 
rence, a  resident  of  Camden,  by  whom  she  has  three  children. — Ella  Virginia, 
Ann  B.  and  Mary  Acton;  Elizabeth  F..  who  is  living  with  her  parents; 
Emma,  the  wife  of  C.  Hildreth,  by  whom  she  has  three  children, — Lillian 
A.,  Alice  and  C.  Hildreth;  Martha  P.,  the  wife  of  Wallace  Avers,  a  merchant, 
by  whom  she  has  two  children, — Helen  Piatt  and  James  Wallace. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Acton  is  a  Republican,  unswerving  in  his 
support  of  the  principles  of  the  party.  He  does  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
its  growth  and  insure  its  success,  and  on  its  ticket  he  was  elected  the  assessor 
of  Mannington  township,  serving  in  the  office  for  seven  years.  He  was  also 
a  commissioner.  He  attends  the  services  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Salem, 
and  is  a  man  whom  to  know  is  to  respect  and  honor,  for  his  life  has  ever 
been  upright,  displaying  those  principles  of  true  manliness  which  everywhere 
awaken  admiration  and  esteem. 


EDWARD  E.  SMITH. 


The  paternal  grandparents  of  Edward  E.  Smith  of  Penn  Grove,  Salem 
county,  were  Asa  and  Catherine  Smith,  natives  of  Philadelphia,  the  former 
a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers  of  the  Keystone  State.  A.sa 
Smith  was  twice  married  and  had  one  son,  Elmer,  by  the  first  union,  and 
James  B..  Asa  and  John  M.  were  children  of  his  second  marriage.  John  M. 
Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Salem  county  in  1803  and  died 
on  his  homestead  near  Penn  Grove  when  he  was  in  his  seventy-sixth  year. 
In  his  youth  his  educational  advantages  were  limited,  yet  by  observation 
and  reading  he  became  well  informed.  Financially,  also,  he  may  justlv  be 
termed  self-made,  as  he  was  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes.  At  one 
time  he  owned  the  land  where  the  Emanuel  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  the  adjoining  cemetery  now  are  located,  and  from  the  time  that  this 
congregation  was  organized  he  was  identified  wdth  it  as  one  of  its  most  ac- 
tive, liberal  members.  Prior  to  his  death  he  bequeathed  five  hundred  dollars 
to  the  church  as  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest,  only,  of  the  amount  to  be 
used,  as  required.  In  his  political  opinion  he  was  an  uncompromising  Dem- 
ocrat. He  wedded  Beulah  Locke,  and  of  their  four  sons,  James  E.,  John  M., 
Edward  and  Edward  E..  only  the  last  mentioned  survives.  Charles  Locke, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity  of  Swedesboro,  Salem 


90  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

countv.  He  licid  niemhersliip  in  the  Episcopal  ciiurcli  and  was  a  valued 
citizen.     Mrs.  Beulah  Smith  lived  to  reach  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-six  years. 

The  birth  of  Edward  E.  Smith  took  place  in  Penn  Grove,  February  21, 
1835.  and  his  entire  life  has  been  quietly  passed  in  this  immediate  locality. 
With  the  exception  of  a  short  period  each  spring,  spent  in  fishing  on  the 
Delaware  river,  he  has  devoted  his  time  exclusively  to  agriculture,  until  of 
late  years.  In  1889.  assisted  by  his  sons,  he  started  a  greenhouse,  upon  an 
extensive  scale,  upon  his  farm,  and  has  made  a  grand  success  of  the  enter- 
prise. The  greenhouses  and  nurseries  are  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  and  are  managed  with  well  directed  wisdom.  All  kinds 
of  evergreen  plants  and  a  great  variety  of  flowers  and  plants  are  grown  here, 
and  forty-five  hundred  square  feet  is  covered  with  glass.  Since  1896  Mr. 
Smith  has  had  charge  of  both  the  old  and  the  new  cemeteries,  and  has  won 
the  commendation  of  all  concerned  by  his  painstaking  care  and  fidelity  to 
the  trust  imposed  in  him. 

In  1857  the  marriage  of  Edward  E.  Smith  and  Mary  F.  Harris  was 
solemnized  in  Swedesboro,  Salem  county.  She  is  the  youngest  child  of 
Josiah  and  Sarah  A.  Harris,  natives  of  this  county.  Her  brothers  and  sisters 
are  named  respectively:  James,  Edward,  Catherine,  and  Anna.  Catherine 
is  the  wife  of  George  C.  Sparks  and  Anna  is  the  wife  of  George  Stanton. 
The  following  named  children  were  liorn  to  our  subject  and  wife:  John, 
who  married  Fannie  Lummis:  Charles,  whose  wife  formerly  was  Georgiana 
Mattison;  Josiah.  who  wedded  Lurilla  Armstrong:  William,  who  married 
Addie  Bailey ;  and  Anna,  the  wife  of  Robert  Walker.  Following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  Mr.  Smith  belongs  to  Emanuel  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  the  valuable  aid  which  he  gives  to  the 
cause  of  righteousness. 


EDW\\RD   L.   FARR. 


Edward  L.  Farr  is  a  resident  of  Wenonah,  New  Jersey,  and  is  the  vice 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  Farr  &  Bailey  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Camden,  this  state.  He  is  a  son  of  Lincoln  D.  and  Hannah  Bailey  Farr,  and 
was  born  in  the  year  1861  in  the  town  of  Manchester,  Maine.  His  ances- 
tors on  both  sides  of  the  house  are  of  old  New  England  stock,  dating  back 
to  the  early  colonial  times.  His  father,  Lincoln  D.  Farr,  was  engaged  in 
various  positions  connected  with  the  manufacture  of  floor  oil-cloth  in  the 
state  of  Maine  and  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1875  took  charge 
of  the  plant  now  owned  by  the  Farr  c't  Bailey  Manufacturing  Company. 
-After  his  death,  in  1883,  the  business  of  the  concern  was  managed  by  Samuel 


COXCRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  91 

T.  Bailey  and  Edward  L.  Farr.  and  in  1889  the  Farr  &  Bailey  Mannfactur- 
ing  Company  was  incorporated.  The  business  has  been  from  its  inception  a 
growing  and  successful  one,  and  a  share  of  its  success  has  been  due  to  the 
enterprise  and  efforts  of  Mr.  Farr. 

Mr.  Farr  was  married  in  1885  to  Miss  Maliel  R.  Greene,  who  died  in 
1899.     He  has  five  children. 

Mr.  Farr  was  educated  at  the  Friends'  School  in  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  and  for  many  years  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  is 
now,  however,  connected  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  W'enonah, 
New  Jersey,  and  is  a  trustee  of  that  organization.  The  only  political  office 
he  has  ever  held  has  been  that  of  clerk  of  the  Ijoard  of  education  of  Wenonah, 
which  position  he  has  occupied  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  also  been  for  many 
years  a  trustee  of  the  West  Jersey  Orphanage  for  Destitute  Colored  Children 
in  Camden.  New  Jersey. 


HUGH  CUNNINGHAM,  JR. 

Hugh  Cunningham,  Jr..  a  farmer  of  Deptford  township,  was  born  in 
Deptford  township.  May  19,  1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  Cunningham  and 
Margaret  nee  Jamieson.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Wood- 
Inirv,  and  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  entire 
life. 

He  was  married  in  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  F^ebruary  25,  1891,  to  Eliza- 
beth Mills,  a  daughter  of  George  Mills  and  Hannah  Adams.  They  have 
had  one  child,  Howard,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  months.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cunningham  attend  Christ  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 


FURMAN   L.   LUDLAM. 

Upon  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Cape  May  county  Fur- 
man  Leaming"  Lucllam  makes  his  home  and  devotes  his  energies  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  For  many  years  he  followed  the  sea,  but  now  gives  his 
time  to  the  cjuieter  pursuits  of  the  farm  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and 
respected  citizens  of  the  communitv.  He  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and 
honored  families,  a  record  of  which  is  given  on  another  page  of  this  work 
in  connection  w  ith  the  sketch  of  Judge  Jesse  D.  Ludlam.  His  great-grand- 
father, Reuben  Ludlam,  was  a  son  of  Anthony  Ludlam  and  was  married  to 


92 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    Tlill    PIRST 


Hannah  Spicer,  a  daughter  of  Walter  Spicer,  one  of  the  prominent  residents 
of  Cape  May  county.  Their  children  were  Christopher,  Priscilla  and 
Deborah.  Christopher  Ludlam,  the  grandfather  of  our  suljject,  was  born 
March  7.  1756,  in  Dennis  township,  Cajie  ]\Iay  county,  and  was  married 
March  26,  1776,  to  Amelia,  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  Hand.  They  became 
the  parents  of  five  children:  Cornehus,  who  was  born  January  7,  1781: 
Reuben,  born  September  16.  1783:  Norton,  bom  June  15,  1788;  Jeremiah, 
bom  February  14,  1792;  and  Francis,  who  was  born  May  7,  1790,  and  died 
in  October  of  the  same  year.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  and  the 
father  afterward  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Holmes.  Their  wedding  was  cele- 
brated June  9,  1795.  and  they  had  two  children:  Charles,  the  father  of  our 
subject;  and  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  1800  and  died  in  181 1.  Christopher 
Ludlam,  the  grandfather,  followed  farming  throughout  his  entire  life,  and 
during  the  war  of  18 12  he  loyally  aided  in  the  defense  of  his  country.  He 
held  a  number  of  local  ofHces,  gave  his  political  support  to  the  ^^'hig  party. 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  or  eighty-five  years,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

Charles  Ludlam,  the  father  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  review, 
was  born  May  25,  1797,  and  died  in  1883,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-six 
years.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  this,  com- 
bined with  his  strong  mentality  and  the  knowledge  gained  through  reading 
and  in  the  practical  afifairs  of  life,  made  him  an  exceptionally  well  informed 
man.  As  a  means  of  livelihood  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  and 
so  directed  his  energies  that  he  acquired  a  good  property,  becoming  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  arable  land,  which  _\'ielded  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestowed  upon  it.  In  early  life 
his  views  on  political  questions  harmonized  with  the  principles  of  the  ^^  hig 
party,  to  which  organization  he  accordingly  gave  his  support,  but  when  the 
Re])ublican  party  was  formed  he  joined  its  ranks  and  followed  its  leadership 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  Sophia  Stites.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ludlam  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children:  William  Ewen.  who 
was  born  March  18,  1823,  died  unmarried;  Clinton  H.,  who  was  I)orn  Au- 
gust 28,  1824,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  married  Eliza  Bishop,  had 
three  children, — Arabella,  Samuel  and  Alice, — and  died  October  11,  1891; 
Hannah  Eliza,  born  October  i,  1826,  died  in  July,  1828;  Louisa,  who  was 
born  August  14,  1828,  and  li\e(l  in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  married  Jarard 
Stites  and  reared  a  family;  Richard,  born  August  2j.  1830,  married  .Ade- 
laide Stoey,  and  is  a  sea  captain  residing  in  Camden;  Furman  is  the  next  of 
the  family;  Charles,  born  January  14,  1835,  was  engaged  in  mining  in  .Ari- 
zona, and  died  June  13,  1882;  Elizal)eth,  who  was  born  August  10,  1837, 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEir   JERSEY.  93 

became  the  wife  of  Garrett  Berry,  a  lawyer  of  Rahway,  New  Jersey,  and 
their  chikh-en  are  Harold.  Sophie.  Waldo,  Bertram  and  Elizabeth;  Julia,  who 
was  born  April  14,  1840,  died  July  25,  1845:  Adelaide,  who  was  born  March 
I.  1842,  became  the  wife  of  John  Watters.  and  had  two  children,  Ralph  and 
Maud;  Coleman  F..  born  February  22,  1844.  died  in  1885;  and  Julia  L..  born 
February  7,  1846,  is  the  widow  of  Walter  Bartlett,  of  Trenton. 

Furman  L.  Ludlam.  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Dennis 
township,  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  November  25,  1832,  and  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood  acquired  his  education,  pursuing- 
his  studies  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  sea  and  ultimately 
became  the  captain  of  a  vessel.  For  twenty  years  he  sailefl  on  the  Atlantic, 
commanding  the  Robert  W.  Dillon,  which  was  engaged  in  the  coasting 
trade,  and  also  acting  as  captain  of  the  William  L.  Abbott.  He  built  several 
vessels  for  other  people  and  was  actively  identified  with  marine  interests 
through  two  decades,  but  after  his  father's  death  he  abandoned  the  sea  and 
purchased  the  old  homestead  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  he  now  owns 
and  operates.  He  devotes  his  energies  to  general  farming,  and  his  highly- 
improved  place  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  county,  being  supplied  with 
all  modern  accessories  and  conveniences  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  his 
lal.Kirs. 

Mr.  Ludlam  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  \'an  Gilder,  a 
daughter  of  Warren  Van  Gilder,  of  Goshen.  They  have  three  children: 
Malcolm  C..  who  was  liorn  January  9,  1868,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  electrical 
department  in  Rutgers  College,  is  now  engaged  in  the  electrical  business  in 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  is  the  superintendent  of  several  electric  roads; 
Howard  W..  born  June  21,  1870,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in 
Rutgers  College  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  wholesale  harness  business  in 
Philadelphia.  He  married  Florence  Shourds.  Sophie  G..  born  February  12, 
1877,  is  still  with  her  parents.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  com- 
munit\'  and  their  friends  are  numliered  among  the  best  people  of  the  com- 
munit}-. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Ludlam  is  a  stanch  Republican,  his  study  of 
political  questions  convincing  him  that  the  best  plans  of  government  are 
embodied  in  the  principles  of  that  part}'.  He  has  twice  l.)een  elected  to  rep- 
resent his  district  in  the  state  legislature, — in  1895  and  1896, — and  there 
labored  earnestly  and  effectively  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  state.  For 
fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Dennis  town- 
ship and  the  schools  have  found  in  him  a  true  friend.  He  is  at  all  times  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  withholds  his  support  from  no  mo\-ement  which 
he  believes  will  enhance  the  welfare  of  the  communitv. 


94  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

GEORGE  W.  CAK1>^. 

One  of  tlie  most  straightforward,  fncrgetic  and  successful  business  men 
of  Gloucester  county  is  George  \\'.  Carr.  wlio  resides  at  Pitman  Grove.  He. 
entered  u])on  his  1)usiness  career  witliout  capital.  sa\e  strong  hands  and  a 
determination  to  succeed.  His  prosperit}-.  therefore,  came  not  as  the  result 
of  a  combination  of  lucky  circumstances,  but  has  risen  from  energy,  enter- 
]irise.  integrity  and  intellectual  efforts  well  directed.  His  1)usiness  has  ever 
been  conducted  on  the  strictest  principles  of  honesty  and  to-day  he  is  num- 
l)ered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  native  count}'. 

Mr.  Carr  was  born  in  Richwood,  Harrison  township.  Gloucester  county. 
April  6.  1856.  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  D.  Carr.  whose  father  was  Robert  Carr. 
Joseph  D.  Carr  also  was  liorn  in  Richwood,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed farming  to  some  extent.  He  took  a  very  prominent  part  in  the  ^letho- 
dist  church,  in  which  he  held  membership,  serving  as  its  steward  and  trustee. 
He  married  Miss  Jane  .\.  Rulon.  a  daughter  of  John  Rulon.  of  French  line- 
age. This  w'orthy  couple  are  still  living,  the  father  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 
the  mother  at  the  age  of  si.xty-nine.  They  have  three  children:  George  ^^'.. 
of  this  sketch;  Dr.  H.  R.,  a  physician  of  Mullica  Hill:  and  Florence,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Dilks.  of  Barnsboro,  Gloucester  county. 

George  W.  Carr  pursued  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  in  his  youth  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  After  thoroughly 
mastering  the  business  he  began  contracting  on  his  own  account,  following 
that  pursuit  until  1888.  when  he  came  to  Pitman  Grove,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres  of  land.  This  included  a  jaond  and  mill. 
and  since  that  time  he  has  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  operating 
a  saw  and  planing  mill  and  manufacturing  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  He  has 
one  lumber-yard  at  the  park  and  one  at  Pitman  Gro\e.  He  has  found  this 
a  profitable  source  of  income. 

In  February,  1900.  Mr.  Carr  erected  a  steam  sawmill  in  Ocean  county 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  cedar  lumber  exc!usi\-ely.  In  connection 
with  this  he  employs  from  ten  to  fifteen  men. 

He  has  also  met  success  in  the  conduct  of  .\lcvon  ]iark.  a  most  beautiful 
summer  resort  which  he  began  to  impro\-e  in  1892.  He  added  to  his  first 
purchase  of  land  a  tract  of  thirtv-two  acres  and  has  made  the  park  a  most 
charming  place  in  which  to  sjiend  the  hot  sunnner  days.  Excellent  bicycle 
roads  have  been  laid  out.  including  the  best  cycle  race  track  in  the  state. 
Boating  and  base  ball  may  be  enjoyed  and  a  toboggan  slide  and  merry-go- 
round  are  numbered  among  the  amusements  of  the  park.  The  grounds  are 
kept  in  excellent  condition  and  the  place  is  well  patronized. 


^ 


^ 


■^^■rL 


iA<^ 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  95 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1881,  ]\Ir.  Carr  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Emma  Pine,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Pine,  a  farmer  of  Blackwood, 
Camden  county.  He  l^elongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Red  Men  and 
contributes  to  the  support  of  tlie  church  and  to  all  movements  and  measures 
which  are  calculated  to  pro\'e  of  public  benefit.  He  belongs  to  that  type  of 
representative  American  citizens  who  promote  the  general  welfare  while  at 
the  same  time  advancing  individual  prosperity,  and  his  name  well  deserves 
a  place  on  the  pages  of  the  history  of  his  native  county. 


RICHMAN   COLES. 


The  Coles  family,  of  whom  Richman  Coles,  of  W'oodstown,  is  a  sterling 
representative,  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Gloucester  and  Salem  counties,  and, 
moreover,  it  can  be  traced  to  a  remote  period  in  the  history  of  England. 
In  order  to  escape  religious  persecution,  one  of  the  family,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Friends,  emigrated  to  New  Jersey  where  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land,  situated  in  Eversham  township,  Burlington  county.  His 
eldest  son,  Samuel  Coles,  married  and  had  two  or  three  daughters.  Martha, 
became  the  wife  of  David  Davis,  a  son  of  Judge  David  Davis,  of  Piles  Grove 
township,  Salem  county,  and  they  had  three  children,- — Jacob,  Joseph  and 
Marj'.  Another  daughter  of  Samuel  Coles,  Mary  by  name,  became  the  wife 
of  a  Mr.  Newbold.  In  the  last  will  and  testament  of  Samuel  Coles,  made  in 
1772,  a  large  amount  of  real  and  personal  property  was  bequeathed  by  him 
to  certain  of  his  relatives.  After  making  a  liberal  provision  for  his  widow, 
Mary  Coles,  he  devised  the  major  portion  of  his  estate  to  his  grandchildren, — 
Jacob,  Joseph  and  Mrs.  Martha  Davis;  to  the  children  of  Mary  Newbold; 
fifty  pounds  to  Mary  Coles,  the  eldest  daughter  of  his  nephew,  Thomas 
Coles;  and,  closing  with  a  few  other  legacies,  he  directed  his  executors,  his 
son-in-law,  David  Davis,  and  his  friend,  Abraham  Allen,  to  pay  fifty  pounds 
to  the  Haddonfield  Preparative  Meeting  of  Friends. 

About  1750  this  nephew,  Thomas  Coles,  left  his  old  home  in  Eversham, 
New  Jersey,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  what  was  known  as  Coles  Mills. 
He  came  into  possession  of  the  valuable  mill  property  there,  including  about 
two  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  it  was  not  until  1808  that  he  removed  to  a 
place  now  called  Harrisonville,  where  he  purchased  a  mill  situated  on  OUl- 
nian's  creek.  He  had  a  considerable  number  of  children,  and  was  influential 
and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  always  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  and  died  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  about  seventv  vears.  Sev- 
eral of  the  descendants  of  the  gentleman  mentioned  above  are  much  es- 


96  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE   FIRST 

teemed  citizens  of  W'oodstown,  and  a  brief  review  is  herewith  given  of  their 
Hves.  Richnian  Coles,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Piles 
Grove  township,  Salem  county,  in  February,  1831.  He  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Rebecca  (Morgan)  Coles,  of  Coles  Mills.  The  former,  who  was  born  in 
1786,  located  in  Piles  Grove  township  about  1820,  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  there  until  his  death,  in  1862. 

Richman  Coles  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  continued  to 
carry  on  the  old  homestead  until  his  marriage.  Then  for  twenty  years 
longer  he  was  engaged  in  farming  operations  in  his  native  township,  but  in 
1882  he  removed  to  Woodstown.  Here  he  has  held  the  very  responsible 
position  of  superintendent  and  treasurer  of  the  Piles  Grove  Dairy  Associa- 
tion. He  has  been  influential  in  politics,  also  ha\-ing  served  his  district  as  a 
memlier  of  the  legislature.  In  1862  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lydia 
Horner,  daughter  of  Mark  and  Catherine  Horner,  of  Gloucester  county, 
and  two  children  bless  their  union,  namely:    Ellen  M.  and  Sue  H. 

William  Coles,  brother  of  Richman  Coles,  was  born  May  20,  1825,  and 
from  his  early  days  until  two  years  ago  he  was  actively  associated  with  farm 
life  and  rural  occupations.  He  served  as  a  committeeman  of  his  township 
and  in  various  local  positions  ami  is  uni\-ersally  esteemed  for  his  sterling 
qualities.  He  married  Lydia  Duell.  March  8,  1855,  prior  to  his  twentieth 
anniversary,  and  to  them  were  born  the  children  named  below:  Ida,  wife 
of  William  G.  Leap;  Cooper,  who  wedded  Ida,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kirby,  of 
Gloucester  county;  Ella,  wife  of  Alfred  M.  Smith;  Emma,  wife  of  Walter 
Sylvester;  and  Clarkson  T.,  whose  wife,  Mabel,  now  deceased,  was  a  daughter 
of  William  Kirby. 

Chalkley  Coles,  son  of  Bartholomew  and  Anna  Coles,  is  a  grandson  of 
Thomas  Coles,  the  Englishman,  farmer,  land-owner  and  lumber  merchant. 
Bartholomew,  who  was  born  July  7.  1785,  at  Coles'  Mills,  New  Jersey, 
lived  to  be  six  months  over  one  hundred  years  old.  He  superintended  his 
father's  mills  in  his  early  manhood  and  later  devoted  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. On  the  1 2th  of  January,  i8og,  he  married  Anna  Whisler,  and  to  them 
the  following  named  children  were  born:  William,  deceased;  Bartholomew; 
Chalkley;  Joseph;  Stacy,  deceased;  Thomas,  deceased;  Uz;  Ira;  and  Harris. 
The  latter  married  Mary  Hurff  and  their  children  are  Elizabeth,  x\nna, 
Martha,  Clawson  and  George.  Uz  married  first  Hannah  Balanger,  by  whom 
three  children  were  born,  Jane  B.,  Anna  and  Isaac  B.;  and  by  his  second 
wife,  Mary  Holdcraft,  four  daughters  were  born,  namely:  Mary,  Sarah, 
Araminta  and  Ella.  W^illiam  wedded  Louise  Whitaker  and  had  two  chil- 
dren,— Xancv  and  William  W.  Bartholomew  married  Rebecca  Horner  and 
their  children  were  Thomas.  Anna,  Charles  E.,  Eleanora,  George  H.,  Eve- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  97 

line,  Martha  Ann  and  Stacy.  Joseph  first  married  Sarah  E.  ]\Ioore.  by 
whom  he  had  three  children:  Emma,  Lillie  and  Hannah,  and  secondly  he 
chose  Postrema  Groff  for  his  wife.  Stacy  married  Lydia  Duell,  and  their 
son  was  named  John  D.     Ira,  who  married  Ann  Adcock,  has  no  children. 

Chalkley  Coles,  who  was  born  in  1823,  was  reared  to  farming,  and  did 
not  leave  the  homestead  nntil  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  then 
bought  a  farm  in  Gloucester  county  and  for  thirty-eight  years  dwelt  thereon, 
finally  removing  to  Woodstown,  where  he  has  since  l;)een  retired  from  active 
cares.  He  was  married  in  his  earlv  manhood  to  Martha  Ann  Coles  and 
subsequently  he  wedded  Elizabeth  Horner.  She  is  a  daughter  of  James 
Horner,  a  native  of  Gloucester  county  and  a  well-to-do  farmer,  whose  last 
years  were  spent  in  Woodstown,  his  death  occurring  in  1892,  when  he  was 
in  his  seventy-third  year.  The  only  son  of  Chalkley  Coles,  Clarence,  has 
been  called  to  the  silent  land,  and  the  only  daughter,  Margaret,  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  E.  Allen  and  mother  of  Elizabeth  Coles,  Joseph  ]\I.  and  Margaret 
Allen. 


WILLIAM    Z.    FLITCRAFT. 

One  of  the  ablest  financiers  and  leading  business  men  of  Salem  county 
is  the  gentleman  of  whom  the  following  is  a  brief  life  history,  for  a  third  of 
a  century  prominently  associated  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Woods- 
town.  His  early  American  ancestors  were  numbered  among  the  substantial, 
industrious  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  New  Jersey,  and  were  truly  worthy 
of  being  accounted  founders  of  the  state. 

Tlie  father  of  the  subject  of  this  article,  .\llen  Flitcraft,  now  of  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  is  a  native  of  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  For  many 
years  he  was  the  principal  and  head  of  the  Eldridge  Hill  boarding  school, 
standing  among  the  ablest  educators  of  his  dav.  He  had  been  a  student 
at  Groynedd  boarding  school  at  the  time  that  Joseph  Fonlk  was  the  prin- 
cipal, and  won  high  honors,  not  only  as  a  French  and  Latin  scholar  but  also 
as  a  mathematician.  For  the  past  three  decades  or  more  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Provident  Trust  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  Like  his  an- 
cestors, a  memljer  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  he  takes  a  leading  part  in  the 
general  councils  of  that  organization,  and  has  long  been  the  head  of  the 
Philadelphia  yearly  meeting.  Formerly  he  regularly  prepared  the  astronom- 
ical calculations  for  the  Friends'  almanac. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Phoelje  Ann  Zorn. 
Her  grandfather,  Conrad  Zorn,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  during  the  seventeenth  centur}-,  and  it  is  l)elie\-ed  that  he  was  a  rela- 
n— G 


98  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   Of   THE   FIRST 

tive  of  the  distinguished  Peter  Zom.  one  of  the  most  learned  philolo^jists 
and  theolog^ians  of  his  day.  Mrs.  Flitcraft's  father,  Wilham  Zorn,  possessed 
strong,  admirable  characteristics.  He  was  a  stanch  temperance  man.  and 
was  the  first  farmer  in  his  section  of  the  Keystone  state  to  harvest  his  grain 
without  permitting  liquor  to  be  used  by  the  hands  employed.  He  was  a 
well  beloved  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Plymouth,  Pennsylvania. 
Of  an  exceptionally  rugged  constitution,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  walking  tive 
or  six  miles  daily,  even  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
Death  came  to  him  as  the  result  of  the  carelessness  of  a  drunken  driver,  who 
drove  his  team  upon  the  old  gentleman  as  he  was  crossing  Broad  street  in 
the  Quaker  city.  Allen  Flitcraft  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  four  sons 
and  a  daughter,  namely:  William  Z.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Isaiah,  the 
cashier  of  the  Provident  Life  &  Trust  Company  of  Philadelphia,  at  their 
branch  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  who  died  in  1897;  Allen  J.,  of  Chicago;  S.  Ship- 
ley, of  Woodstown;  and  Alvanetta,  the  wife  of  T.  F.  Sheppard,  of  Philadel- 
phia. Allen  J.  Flitcraft  is  the  editor  of  the  leading  literature  and  standard 
'works  on  the  subject  of  life  insurance,  used  by  all  of  the  companies  engaged 
in  this  field  of  endeavor. 

The  birth  of  William  Z.  Flitcraft  took  place  near  Woodstown  in  1846. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  Eldridge  Hill  boarding  school, 
and,  being  an  exceptionally  bright  student,  he  obtained  a  certificate  and  com- 
menced teaching  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  then  was  employed 
in  the  counting-house  of  S.  A.  Stern,  of  Philadelphia.  When  only  twenty 
years  old  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Woodstown,  and 
in  1 87 1,  after  having  fully  proved  his  reliability  and  fidelity,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  cashiership,  which  ofifice  he  still  efificiently  holds.  He  has  reason  to 
1)6  proud  of  his  record  and  his  long  connection  with  this  solid  banking  in- 
stitution, and  no  one  in  the  county  is  held  in  higher  esteem  by  e\ery  one. 

In  October,  1876,  Mr.  Flitcraft  and  Anna  Pancoast  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. Their  only  child,  Edith,  has  been  given  superior  educational  ad\an- 
tages  and  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  '99,  of  Swarthmore  College,  stand- 
ing third  in  scholarship  in  a  class  of  twenty-nine  members,  and  having  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  conferred  upon  her.  She  is  now  taking  a  post- 
graduate course  of  study  at  the  University  of  Cambridge,  England.  Mrs. 
Flitcraft  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Charlotte  (Hillman)  Pancoast  and  a 
sister  of  J.  Walter;  Sarah  H.;  Omar,  a  Baltimore  physician;  and  Hannah 
L.,  the  wife  of  Lieutenant  Commander  S.  P.  Comly,  prominent  in  the  battle 
of  Santiago,  in  the  late  Spanish-American  war.  James  Pancoast  was  a 
native  of  Salem  county,  where  he  became  one  of  the  extensive  land-holders 
in  later  years.     He  died  in  1877,  in  his  eighty-third  year.     Samuel  Hillman, 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEIJ'   JERSEY.  gg 

tlie  maternal  grandfatlier  of  ^^Irs.  P^'litcraft,  \\a^  a  leading  citizen  of  Salem, 
Salem  county,  in  his  day,  and  it  is  said  of  him  as  of  William  Z.  Flitcraft, 
maternal  grandfather,  that  he  was  the  first  farmer  in  his  county  to  have  his 
harvesting  all  done  without  the  use  of  liquor  among  his  employees. 


JOSEPH   C.   WALLACE. 

Joseph  C.  Wallace,  deceased,  was  for  many  \ears  a  representati\'e  citizen 
and  leading  farmer  of  \\'oohvich  townshi]).  ( iloucester  county.  He  was 
born  in  Thoroughfare,  New  Jersey,  in  183 1,  and  died  in  1883.  on  a  farm  now 
occupied  by  his  son,  Isaac.  Throughout  his  life  he  was  identified  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  his  childhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  a  manner  usual 
to  farmer  boys  of  that  period.  He  followed  the  plow,  aided  in  caring  for 
the  crops  through  the  summer  months  and  in  the  autumn  assisted  in  the 
harvest  fields.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  but  when  the  civil  war  was  inaugurated  he  put  aside  all  personal 
considerations  and  in  response  to  his  country's  call  went  to  the  defense  of 
the  Union,  enlisting  on  the  loth  of  September,  1861.  as  a  private  of  Com- 
pany D,  Eighth  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  He  was  afterward  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  sergeant,  and  on  the  28th  of  November,  1863,  was 
injured  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse,  near  Mine  Run,  Virginia.  This 
caused  his  discharge,  but  on  the  30th  of  December,  1863,  he  re-enlisted  and 
was  transferred  to  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  July  24,  1865.  On  the  i  ith  of  .Vugust  of  the  same  year  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  at  Richmond,  for  the  war  was  over,  the  Union  pre- 
served intact,  and  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  sen-ices. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Mr.  ^^'allace  resumed  farming  and  to  that  work 
devoted  his  energies  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  placed  his 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  his  energies  lirought  to  him  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  was  married  on  the  31st  of  Deceml)er,  1857,  to 
Miss  Beulah  W.  Black,  who  resided  where  her  son  Isaac  now  makes  his 
home.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  \'.  and  Elizabeth  fOre)  Black  and  is  a 
granddaughter  of  Samuel  Black,  and  l)y  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children:  Marietta  H..  who  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Longacfe 
and  died  leaving  a  son,  S.  Wallace:  he  was  a  commission  merchant  at  Swc  les- 
boro;  John  D.,  a  farmer  and  ice  dealer  of  Swedesboro,  who  married  Mary 
A.  Kesting,  and  has  two  children, — Howard  K.  and  Ralph  C. :  Georgiana 
S.,  the  deceased  wife  of  Harry  B.  Shoch:  Isaac  B.,  who  married  Elorence  L. 
Hurff ;  Rachel  L..  who  is  the  wife  of  Josei)li  J.  Given,  is  the  principal  school- 


KXi  BIOGR.irHICAL   HISTORY   Of    TtlE   FIRST 

tcaclicr  at   Peiinsvillc.  and  lias  one  cliild.   |.    Kaynioinl;  and   Lizzie  C.  and 
Joseph  B.,  who  reside  with  their  mother. 

The  family  is  of  prominence  in  the  oomninnity.  its  representatives  oocn- 
pving  leading  positions  in  business  and  social  circles.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  his  widow  belongs 
to  the  society  known  as  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  He  was  also  a  valued 
representative  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  was  as  true  to  his 
duties  of  citizenship  as  when  he  followed  the  starry  banner  upon  the  battle- 
fields of  the  south.  In  business  he  was  honorable  and  trustworthy  and  at  all 
times  commanded  the  respect  of  his  fellow  men.  so  that  at  his  death  he  left 
to  his  family  an  untarnished  name. 


JOSEPH  G.  FRENCH. 


For  thirty  years  the  subject  of  this  article  has  been  the  owner  and  mana- 
ger of  French's  Hotel,  at  Penn  Gro\c.  one  of  the  favorite  resorts  in  this 
section  of  New  Jersey.  The  picnic  grounds  in  connection  with  the  hotel 
have  been  in  demand  for  about  sixty  years,  on  account  of  their  great  natural 
attractions,  and  of  late  have  been  beautified  by  the  addition  of  many  im- 
portant features,  suggested  by  the  enterprising  owner,  who  has  not  sjiared 
expense  in  his  endeavors  to  please  his  patrons. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  Mr.  French  it  is  found  that  he  was  born  Sep- 
tember 6,  1835.  near  Harrisonville,  Gloucester  county.  When  he  was  young 
he  worked  on  a  farm,  and  in  185 1  he  commenced  learning  the  trade  of  brick- 
layer. After  having  served  an  apprenticeship  of  about  five  years,  in  this 
county,  he  became  associated  with  Richard  Ballanger  and  Richard  Miller, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ballanger,  Miller  &  French.  At  the  end  of  one  year 
Mr.  French  retired  from  the  firm  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Smith 
B.  Sickler,  and  together  they  carried  on  an  extensive  bricklaying  and  con- 
tracting busiiiess  for  a  number  of  years.  IDuring  this  period  the  firm  was 
awarded  contracts  for  the  first  bank  building  erecteil  in  Woodstown.  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Daretown,  this  county,  and  the  Gloucester  county 
almshouse,  besides  numerous  private  residences  and  business  blocks.  In 
1869  this  prosperous  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  IMr.  French  came  to 
Penn  Grove,  where  he  has  since  remained. 

The  first  licensed  hotel  in  this  town  was  one  now  used  as  a  private 
dwelling.  It  was  used  for  seven  years  prior  to  the  time  that  French's  Hotel 
was  erected  in  1838,  and  that  year  it  was  purchased  by  Charles  Elkinton, 
who  closed  the  smaller  one,  and  from  that  day  to  this  the  large  building  has 


f  '-i-"-*^- 


COXGRESSJOX.il   district    OT   XEir   JERSEY.  loi 

afforded  pleasant  accommodations  to  the  pul>lic.  Soon  after  it  was  com- 
pleted, picnic  gronnds  were  laid  out  around  it,  antl  man}-  a  Iia]jpy  da\"  lias 
been  passed  here  by  people  from  far  and  near  throughout  this  region.  In 
the  spring  of  1866  the  hotel  passed  into  the  possession  of  Jol)  Robinson,  of 
Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  was  managed  by  him  for  three  years.  In  1869 
Air.  French  became  the  owner  of  the  hostelry,  which  has  since  then  been 
known  by  his  name.  He  has  made  substantial  improvements  at  different 
times,  putting  in  a  sea  wall  along  the  frontage  on  the  Delaware  river,  erect- 
ing a  handsome  amusement  hall,  arranging  comfortable  seats  under  the  fine 
old  trees,  here  and  there,  and  seeing  that  every  convenience  and  comfort 
possible  for  his  guests  is  ]M-o\ided.  In  the  hotel  the  visitor  at  once  feels  the 
homelike  atmosphere  of  the  place,  everything  being  neat,  clean  and  attract- 
ive, the  meals  substantial,  well  served  and  well  cooked.  The  genial  and 
popular  host  is  ever  alert  to  carry  out  suggestions  of  his  guests,  and  seems 
to  take  genuine  pleasure  and  pride  in  making  them  comfortal)le  and  thor- 
oughly satisfied  with  everything. 

In  all  of  his  endeavors,  Mr.  French,  finds  a  willing  assistant  in  the  person 
of  his  estimable  wife,  formerly  Miss  Emma  G.  Trenn.  Their  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  1859,  and  their  only  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  .\rthur 
H.  Chandler,  of  Hornersville,  New  York,  and  the  mother  of  two  sons: 
Joseph  French  and  William  Paul.  Mrs.  French  is  a  daughter  of  the  late 
John  M.  Trenn,  of  May's  Landing,  New  Jersey.  She  is  a  member  of  St. 
George's  Episco].)al  church,  of  this  place,  and  is  an  earnest  worker  for  the 
poor  and  needy  and  in  all  worthy  benevolences.  Air.  French  is  a  member 
of  the  Heptasophs,  and  has  a  well  earned  place  in  the  friendship  of  the 
people. 


\VILLL\M   A[.   CARTER. 

^^'illiam  Alickle  Carter,  the  city  engineer  of  \\'oodl)ury.  Gloucester 
county,  has  been  so  prominently  connected  with  the  public  interests  of  this 
section  of  the  state  that  he  well  deserves  mention  among  the  representative 
men  who  ha\'e  assisted  so  materially  in  promoting  its  progress  and  pros- 
perity. He  was  born  in  Mickleton,  East  Greenwich  towmship,  Gloucester 
county,  July  13,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Job  and  Rachel  (Owen)  Carter.  Jona- 
than Carter,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  January  5,  1756, 
and  was  married  April  11,  1780,  to  Rachel  Kithcart.  by  whom  he  had  four 
children:  William,  Isaiah,  Sarah  and  Jonathan.  The  grandfather.  William 
Carter,  was  born  April  29,  1782.  and  on  the  22d  of  October,  1807.  married 
Elizabeth  Dawson.     By  her  he  had  nine  children:     Restore,  John,  Isaiah, 


I02  BIOCRAPIIICAL   HISTORY   Of   THE   FIRST 

Jol).  George.  Sar;ili.  Aaron,  Elizabeth  and  Kaclicl.  After  the  death  of  the 
mother.  W'ilhani  Carter  married  l\os;uina  Menchnckson.  on  the  22(\  of  Janu- 
ary, 184-'. 

Job  Carter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Greenwich  township. 
this  county,  February  13.  1813.  and  spent  his  entire  Hfe  there,  becoming  a 
prosperous  farmer  as  tlie  result  of  his  untiring  industry  and  perseverance. 
He  purchased  the  Tonkin  farm  in  East  Greenwich  township  and  it  became 
the  homestead  of  the  family.  This  is  an  old,  historical  place,  which  was  at  one 
time  owned  and  occupied  by  Boda  Otto.  Mr.  Carter  died  February  ij.  1893, 
and  was  survived  by  his  second  wife,  who  was  Miss  Rachel  Owen  in  her  maiden- 
hood and  is  now  in  her  se\enty-fourth  year.  His  first  union  was  with  Miss 
Mary  C.  Turner,  January  4,  1843,  and  unto  them  were  born  the  following: 
Joseph  T..  born  Septemljer  18,  1844;  and  Abbie,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 5,  1847.  The  wife  died  August  i,  1849,  ''"d  on  January  i,  1852.  Job 
Carter  was  married  to  Rachel  Owen.  She  was  born  June  12,  1826,  and  her 
father,  Joseph  Owen,  was  the  blacksmith  who  welded  the  first  iron  plowshare 
made  in  Xew  Jersey.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  William  M.,  oiu" 
subject:  INlary  L.,  born  April  19,  1858:  Sarah,  born  March  20,  1861:  and 
Lydia,  born  No\ember  17,  1867.  Joseph  T.  Carter,  the  oldest  son,  married 
Anna  Frances  Clark,  who  died  December  15,  1870,  leaving  Samuel  Mason. 
born  January  19.  1878;  Etta  T.,  born  September  20,  187 — :  and  Mary  T.. 
who  died  in  infancy.  He  then  married  Emma  Tonkin,  on  March  24,  1886. 
Abbie  Carter  married  Burkitt  \\'.  Warrington  and  has  one  child,  William  C. 
Mar)-  L.  married  Ellwood  Roberts  and  has  five  children, — Howard,  Charles, 
deceased,  Alice,  William,  and  Mary.  Sarah  Carter  married  Richard  S. 
Brown  and  has  three  children,  Rachel  C.  born  January  8,  1891 :  Joseph  Clin- 
ton, born  September  18.  1892;  and  William  C.  bom  March  14,  1897.  Lydia 
Carter  died  unmarried. 

William  M.  Carter  was  born  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
finding  little  time  to  attend  the  district  school  except  during  a  few  short 
months  in  the  winter.  But  he  made  good  use  of  the  meager  opportunities 
that  came  in  his  way,  studying  in  each  interval  that  could  be  spared  from 
his  duties,  and  made  rapid  progress,  outstripping  his  schoolmates  and  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  scientific  education,  which  has  placed  him  in  the  im- 
portant position  he  now  occupies.  When  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  was 
placed  in  entire  charge  of  the  farm  and  conducted  it  on  a  paying  basis  for 
seven  years,  when  he  moved  to  Woodbury.  Having  studied  civil  engineer- 
ing during  his  last  year  at  school  he  ajiplied  himself  to  the  study  of  that 
science  during  his  evenings  and  s])are  liours  and  decided  to  make  it  his 
profession.     In  1887  he  recei\ed  the  ajjpointment  as  cit\-  engineer  of  Wood- 


COA'GRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  103 

bury,  and  so  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  have  the  duties  of  the  position  been 
discharged  that  he  is  still  retained  in  the  office  which  he  has  filled  with  so 
much  honor  and  credit.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  insurance 
business  and  settles  up  many  estates,  being  a  reliable  and  trustworthy  man 
well  qualified  for  that  important  and  responsible  work. 

Mr.  Carter  was  married  in  Camden,  New  Jersey,  by  Mayor  Bradshaw, 
on  November  9,  1882,  to  Miss  Lizzie  P.  Honer.  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Emiline  Honer,  of  Mullica  Hill,  this  county.  Their  children  are  Everett  H., 
born  October  21,  1886,  and  died  in  July  of  the  next  year;  Job  Owen,  born 
February  4,  1890;  George  H.,  born  December  21,  1893,  and  died  in  infancy; 
and  Ella  H.,  born  February  4,  1895. 

Mr.  Carter  has  been  chosen  to-  a  number  of  local  offices  and  has  been 
untiring  in  looking  after  the  public  interests.  In  1891  he  was  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  of  this  county  and  still  holds  that  office,  although  he 
does  not  solicit  legal  business.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  a  com- 
missioner of  deeds,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  health  since  its 
organization  in  1888  and  has  served  that  body  as  secretary  for  five  years. 
For  eight  years  he  was  on  the  board  of  commissioners  of  appeals  and  de- 
clined renomination  to  that  office.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Hep- 
tasophs  and  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  He  stands  for  the^best  type  of 
American  citizenship, — those  who  have  carved  their  own  way  in  the  world 
and  occupy  places  of  responsibility  and  trust  among  their  fellow-  men. 


TH O:\IAS   W.   SYNNOTT. 

Thomas  W.  Synnott  was  born  at  Glassboro,  New  Jersey,  in  1845,  and 
resides  at  Wenonah.  this  state.  He  is  a  descendant  of  an  old,  representative 
family  of  Wexford,  Ireland.  One  of  his  ancestors  was  the  governor  of  that 
citv  and  province  during  Oliver  Cromwell's  time.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  Martin  Synnott,  after  graduating  at  Wexford  College,  came 
to  America,  in  1790,  and  locating  in  Philadelphia,  he  engaged  in  the  shipping 
business  and  amassed  a  fortune,  but  lost  largely  during  the  war  of  18 12- 14 
by  the  capture  of  vessels  in  which  he  was  interested. 

His  son  Miles,  the  father  of  T.  W.  Synnott,  was  born  at  May's  Landing, 
New  Jersey,  graduated  at  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  1831  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Glassboro,  which  he  continued  until  his  death  in 
1867.  His  wife  Harriet  was  a  daughter  of  Eben  W'hitney  and  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  Colonel  Thomas  Fleston,  of  Revolutionary  fame. 

Thomas  W.   Synnott  received  his  education  in   the  public   schools  of 


104  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Glassboro  and  the  West  Jersey  Academy  at  Bridgeton.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  Whitney  Glass  Works  at  Glassboro,  and,  after 
mastering  the  details  of  that  inijiortant  industry,  gave  his  time  and  energies 
to  the  business  until  he  retired  from  its  active  management  in  1892.  The 
Whitney  Glass  Works  were  incorporated  in  1887,  with  Thomas  W.  Synnott 
as  its  first  president,  and  the  capacity  of  the  works  more  than  doubled;  and 
it  is  to  his  business  ability  that  much  of  the  success  which  the  company  en- 
joys is  to  be  attributed. 

Mr.  Synnott  is  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication,  a  trustee  of  Lincoln  University  and 
of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  the  president  of  the  Gloucester  County 
Bible  Society  and  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Glassboro,  and  largely  in- 
terested in  railroads  in  the  west  and  south.  Success  has  come  to  him  as  the 
direct  result  of  concentration  of  mind  and  purpose. 

In  1872  he  married  Miss  Mary  Eldridge,  the  daughter  of  S.  T.  Eldridge, 
of  Philadelphia.  Their  home  in  Wenonah  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  modern 
homes  in  south  Jersey. 


J.   WESLEY   SELL. 


J.  Wesley  Sell,  who  is  now  the  sheriff  of  Camden  county,  was 
born  in  the  sixth  ward  of  Camden,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1864. 
His  father.  Charles  Sell,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  in  1835  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  the  New  World,  believing  that  he  could  more  rapidly  acquire  a 
competence  in  this  country  than  in  the  Fatherland.  In  early  life  he  studied 
for  the  ministry,  but  abandoning  that  calling  he  became  a  machinist  and 
for  many  years  was  foreman  of  the  Esterbrook  Steel  Pen  ^^'orks  in  Camden. 
Always  deeply  interested  in  the  subject  of  astronomy,  he  carried  his  investi- 
gations far  and  wide  in  that  science,  and  his  knowledge  was  extensive  and 
profound.  He  married  Rosalie  Boethell,  also  a  native  of  Ciermany.  and  in 
February.  1898.  they  were  separated  by  death,  the  wife  and  mother  being 
called  to  her  final  rest.     She  had  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

In  the  common  schools  John  \\\  Sell  acquired  a  practical  English  educa- 
tion and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  put  aside  his  text-books  in  order  to 
earn  his  own  living.  He  began  learning  the  jeweler's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  four  years,  and  in  1885  he  entered  the  railway  mail  service,  which 
he  continued  for  two  and  one-half  years,  when  he  resigned  and  embarked 
in  the  real  estate  business  on  his  own  account.  In  1892  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff,  by  Sheriff'  West,  and  continued  in  that  office  until  elected,  in 
1899,  to  the  prime  office  of  sheriff',  and  he  assumed  its  duties  November  14. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  105 

He  was  elected  1n-  a  majority  of  ten  thousand  over  T.  J.  McDanell.  He  is 
a  most  capable  and  efficient  officer,  for  his  courage  is  unequaled  and  his 
fidelity  to  duty  is  one  of  his  marked  characteristics.  He  has  also  ser%'ed  in 
the  city  council  for  one  year,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  lioard  of  educa- 
tion for  four  years. 

Mr.  Sell  is  a  m.ember  of  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Red  Men  and  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Camden  Republican  Club.  His  social 
qualities,  genial  manner  and  genuine  worth  render  him  popular,  and  he  has 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  The  enterprise  and  ambition 
which  are  essential  elements  in  advancement  in  life  are  numbered  among 
his  characteristics  and  therefore  we  feel  safe  in  predicting  that  he  will  con- 
tinually work  his  way  upward. 


DAN   WARE. 


One  of  the  venerable  and  highly  honored  citizens  of  W'oodstown.  Salem 
county,  Dan  Ware  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  old  New  Jersey  family. 
His  father,  ]\Iaskell  \\'are,  born  December  13,  1766,  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Elnathan  and  Mercy  (Ware)  Ware.  In  his  early  manhood  Maskell  Ware 
learned  the  trade  of  chair-making,  at  Salem,  New-  Jersey,  his  instructor  being 
John  Laming,  a  Quaker.  Seven  of  the  sons  of  Maskell  Ware  learned  their 
father's  trade  and  followed  it  for  a  livelihood. 

Dan  Ware  w-as  born  near  Roadstown,  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey, 
in  April,  1814,  and.  like  his  father  and  brothers,  he  mastered  the  business 
of  making  chairs  and  continued  to  work  at  this  calling,  in  connection  with 
house-painting,  until  1897,  ^vhen  he  retired.  He  possesses  a  keen,  inventive 
mind  and  always  has  been  regarded  as  a  model  of  industry.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  was  employed  by  his  brother,  Maskell  W'are,  for  some  time,  but 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  embarked  in  independent  business.  In  1843,  he 
removed  to  Woodstown,  where  he  has  dwelt  ever  since, — nearly  three-score 
years.  He  enjoys  the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  now,  in  his  eighty- 
sixth  year,  he  may  look  back  over  his  long  life  and  feel  that  he  has  performed 
his  entire  duty  toward  his  family  and  neighbors,  striving  ever  to  aid  those  less 
fortunately  situated  than  himself. 

Nearly  fifty-five  years  ago,  on  the  i8th  of  December,  1845,  ^  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  by  which  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Ware  and  Miss  Cor- 
nelia Stites  were  united.  Their  eldest  child,  Pauline  Stites,  born  September 
25,  1846,  died  January  12,  1869.     Augustine  was  born  ]\Iarch  22,  1848.  and 


io6  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Townsend  S..  July  22.  1849.  Medora,  born  January  28,  1851,  died  March 
29,  1889.  Harold  M.  was  born  April  23,  1853,  and  Lucien  B.,  January  31. 
1855.  Wendel  P.,  born  September  5.  1859.  died  December  i,  1862.  Julian 
Dan,  born  March  27,  1861,  died  September  11,  1861.  Isabella  G.,  born  Oc- 
tober 26,  1862,  and  Cornelia  Stites.  born  December  24,  1864,  complete  the 
family. 


HENRY  H.  CARR,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Carr  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  ^iullica  Hill  and  is 
enjoying  a  liberal  patronage  which  indicates  his  ability  in  the  line  of  his 
chosen  profession.  He  was  Ijorn  in  Richwood,  New  Jersey,  March  7,  1864, 
and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  D.  Carr,  also  a  native  of  the  same  place.  The 
grandfather,  Robert  Carr,  was  born  in  Camden  county.  New  Jersey,  and  was 
of  English  lineage.  Representatives  of  the  name  came  from  England  to 
America  with  a  colony  that  settled  in  North  Carolina,  and  which  was  under 
the  guidance  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  The  family  was  one  of  prominence  in 
the  mother  country.  William  Shakespere  Carr  having  the  distinguished 
honor  of  serving  as  premier  under  King  George  HI.  He  liad  three  sons, 
two  of  whom  went  to  Scotland,  where  one  changed  his  name  to  Kerr  and  the 
other  wrote  his  name  Car.  The  brother  who  remained  in  England  and  from 
whom  the  family  in  .\merica  is  descended,  retained  the  original  spelling  of 
the  name.  The  progenitor  of  the  family  in  the  New  \\'orld  married  the 
sister  of  Thomas  Randolph  and  thus  became  connected  with  one  of  the  most 
prominent  families  of  the  New  \\'orld. 

Joseph  D.  Carr,  the  father  of  our  subject,  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  for  many  years  at  Richwood,  New  Jersey,  being  numbered  among 
the  successful  business  men  at  that  point.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  maintaining  his  residence  in  Pittman  Grove. 
He  has  been  a  life-long  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has 
taken  a  very  prominent  and  effective  part  in  its  work.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Jane  A.  Rulon,  a  daughter  of  John  Rulon.  One  of  her  ancestors 
in  direct  line  was  a  native  of  France  and  became  a  Protestant,  but  belonged 
to  a  family  of  eleven  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  Catholics.  It  was  a  time  of 
rehgious  persecution  in  tliat  country  when  the  Catholics  were  killing  all  of 
opposite  faith  and  he  fled  for  his  life,  eftecting  his  escape  by  I)eing  nailed  up 
in  a  molasses  barrel  and  put  on  board  a  ship  bound  for  New  York,  .\fter 
a  voyage  of  twelve  weeks  he  landed  in  this  country,  where  he  soon  after 
married  an  English  lady.  They  became  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  from 
one  of  whom  descends  the  mother  of  Dr.  Carr.  who  is  still  living,  at  the  age 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEIV   JERSEY.  107 

of  sixty-four  years.  Dr.  Carr  represents  the  seventh  generation  that  have 
descended  from  this  couple.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carr  have  been  born  three 
children:  George  W.,  a  resident  of  Pittman  Grove;  H.  H.;  and  Florence, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Dilkes,  of  Barnsboro. 

The  Doctor  attended  the  Academy  at  Richwood  and  also  pursued  his 
education  under  the  instruction  of  a  ])rivate  tutor.  Determining  to  make 
the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work  he  entered  the  Hahnemann  Medical 
College,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  graduated  on  the  completion  of  a  thor- 
ough course,  as  a  member  of  the  class  of  1885.  He  then  located  in  Pittman 
Gro\-e,  where  he  resided  until  April  19.  1887,  when  he  came  to  Mnllica  Hill. 
However,  he  still  maintained  his  office  at  Pittman  Grove  and  is  enjoying  a 
line  practice  in  both  places.  He  is  well  informed  concerning  the  science 
of  medicine  and  by  reading  and  study  keeps  abreast  with  the  progress  which 
characterizes  the  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy  and  the  State  Homeopathic  Society. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1887,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Carr  and 
!Miss  Laura  A.,  a  daughter  of  William  Dawson,  of  Mickleton,  New  Jersey, 
They  ha\-e  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  enjoy  the  regard  of  the  best  citizens 
of  this  community.  Their  own  home  is  noted  for  its  hospitality,  for  good 
ch.eer  always  reigns  supreme  there.  The  Doctor  is  a  jovial,  genial  gentle- 
man and  his  sunny  temperament  adds  not  a  little  to  his  success  as  a  practi- 
tioner, for  a  bright  presence  in  a  sick  room  is  often  as  good  as  a  tonic.  The 
place  he  has  won  in  the  medical  profession  is  accorded  him  in  recognition 
of  his  skill  and  ability,  and  the  place  which  he  occupies  in  the  social  world 
is  a  tribute  to  that  genius,  worth  and  true  nobility  of  character  that  are  uni- 
versallv  recognized  and  honored. 


ALEX   HAND. 


Alex  Hand,  an  extensive  real-estate  owner  and  manager  of  the  carriage 
works  of  Salem,  is  a  son  of  Francis  and  Ann  W.  (Cleaver)  Hand,  and  was 
born  in  this  place  July  28,  1841.  The  first  of  the  name  who  came  to  this 
country  was  John  Hand,  who  landed  at  Lynn,  ^Massachusetts,  in  1635,  and 
went  to  Guilford,  Connecticut.  In  1644  he  was  a  resident  of  Southampton. 
He  had  nine  children, — Cornelius,  Joseph,  Shamgar,  Benjamin,  Stephen, 
John.  James.  Thomas  and  Mary.  In  1699  three  of  the  sons  settled  in  Cape 
May, — Thomas,  Cornelius  and  Shamgar, — and  from  these  all  the  Cape  May 
people  of  the  stock  have  descended.  There  were  two  families  of  the  name 
in  Cape  May  county,  who  were  of  English  origin  and  used  the  family  coat  of 
arms.    The  paternal  grantlfather.  Israel  Hand,  was  Ijorn  in  Cape  May  county 


I08  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE    FIRST 

and  (lied  tluTe  in  early  life.  He  was  related  to  (ieneral  Hand  and  married 
a  lady  who  bore  the  same  surname,  Mary  Hand,  hut  of  a  different  faniil\-. 
They  reared  two  children,  Alex  and  Francis,  the  father  of  our  suliject. 
After  the  death  of  Israel  Hand,  his  widow  was  married  to  a  Air.  (iarson. 

Francis  Hand  also  was  htjrn  in  Cape  May  county.  February  12.  1817. 
His  education  was  ol)tained  at  the  schools  of  the  locality  in  which  he  lived, 
and  he  then  learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright  and  carriage-maker.  He 
worked  at  Cape  I\lay,  MilKille  and  Camden,  and  then  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  at  Sharptown.  this  county.  After  four  years  there  he  came  to 
Salem,  and.  with  Daniel  Kiger,  o])ened  the  establishment  of  Hand  &  Kiger. 
which  was  continued  on  a  satisfactory  basis  until  December  9,  1856.  when 
he  sold  out  his  interest  to  Charles  Hall.  He  then  embarked  in  the  grocer\- 
business  for  a  short  time,  and  later,  in  1858,  he  bought  out  the  carriage  busi- 
ness of  Smith  &  Corlis,  which  he  continued  alone  until  April  i,  1869.  when 
our  subject  was  taken  in  partnership  and  the  firm  was  known  as  F.  Hand  & 
Son.  This  partnership  continued  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when  it  was 
terminated  by  the  death  of  the  father.  Francis  Hand  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  the  county  and  took  a  prominent  ]:)art  in  all  ]mblic  af- 
fairs. He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  treasurer,  was  a  member  of  the 
council  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  and  was  a  freeholder  several  times.  His 
opponent  for  cit}^  treasurer  was  William  H.  Lawson.  of  Salem,  and  they 
made  their  canvass  together  in  the  most  friendly  manner.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  was  also  active  in  the 
Washington  Beneficent  Society.  He  married  Ann  W.  Cleaver,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Cleaver,  lay  whom  he  had  two  children:  Alex,  our  subject;  and 
Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Harry  Freas,  who  is  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  busi- 
ness in  Salem.  Francis  Hand  died  August  2f<.  1894.  in  his  seventy-seventh 
year,  and  was  widelv  mourned.  Fie  was  a  n.ian  of  fine  executive  abilit\'. 
popular  in  both  business  and  social  circles.  The  mother  died  August  30. 
1861.  after  twenty-one  years  of  married  life  of  more  than  common  felicity. 

Thomas  Cleaver,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  August  i,  1781,  and  moved  to  Salem  at  an  early  age.  He  was  a 
son  of  Isaac  Cleaver  and  a  grandson  of  Peter  and  Susannah  Cleaver.  Al- 
most his  entire  life  was  passed  in  Salem,  v.diere  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of 
carpenter.  He  married  Rachel  Lambert.  September  20,  1804.  She  was 
the  youngest  child  of  John  Lambert,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  came 
with  her  father  from  his  native  country.  Essex.  England,  and  settled  in 
Salem  at  Penn's  Xeck.  Carne\''s  Point,  on  the  Delaware  ri\-er.  John  Lam- 
bert introduced  the  cultivation  of  red  clover  in  this  country,  and  it  was 
through hisrecommendalion and  aihice  that  it  became  so  widely  distribiUed. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  109 

He  \'isited  the  continental  congress,  lield  at  Philadelphia,  spoke  enthusiastic- 
ally on  the  merits  of  red  clover  as  a  food  for  stock  and  furnished  a  sample 
of  the  seed  to  a  gentleman  who,  in  return,  sent  him  a  bushel  of  white  wheat. 
Rachel  Lambert  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  one  of  the 
oldest  members  during  her  life.  She  was  born  December  13,  1785,  and  died 
November  3.  1855.  and  was  laid  to  sleep  in  the  old  graveyard  of  the  church 
she  loved  so  well,  in  Salem.  Four  years  later,  on  March  22,  her  husband, 
Thomas  Cleaver,  then  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  was  also  called  to  his  re- 
ward and  was  laid  beside  her.  Their  children  were  Mary,  born  October  2, 
1806,  and  died  September  2,  1897;  Sarah  Milburn,  born  September  4,  1808. 
and  married  James  Smith;  Hannah  Garrison,  born  December  2y,  1810,  and 
died  September  25,  1865,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Paulding;  Mary  Watkins,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Elwell,  born  January  23,  1817,  and  died  in  March,  1844;  William 
Lambert,  born  September  23,  1819,  and  died  in  .Milwaukee  in  1873  of  that 
dread  disease,  spinal  meningitis.  He  was  married  July  i,  1840,  to  Ann  ^^^ 
Sheppard,  who  died  December  18,  1850,  and  on  April  3,  1845,  he  was  united 
to  Hannah  O.  Harris;  Ann  ^^'right,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born 
January  16,  1822,  and  died  August  30,  1861 ;  Caroline  N.,  Mrs.  Charles 
Ware,  was  liorn  July  2,  1824.  He  died  January  9,  1870,  at  Delaware  City 
and  she  afterward  married  again.  Rachel  Lambert  was  born  April  23.  1829, 
and  died  February  20,  1899.  On  January  11.  1853.  she  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Charles  Hall,  and  on  the  following  August  was  called  to  mourn 
his  death.  Her  second  husband  was  R.  Gregory,  to  whom  she  was  united 
September  22,  1864,  and  who  died  in  1880. 

Alex  Hand  became  associated  with  his  father  in  his  large  business  of 
wheel  and  carriage-making  when  a  young  man,  and  having  an  adaptability 
for  that  line  he  continued  at  it,  and  in  1869  was  taken  in  as  a  partner  in  the 
concern.  After  his  father's  death  in  1894.  our  subject  continuefl  the  busi- 
ness and  enjoys  an  extensive  iiatronage,  which  is  well  merited.  He  has  a 
shop  witli  eighty-four  feet  frontage  and  a  depth  of  forty-eight  feet,  and  does 
considerable  repairing  as  well  as  buying  and  selling  of  vehicles.  He  fre- 
quently has  fifteen  men  in  his  employ  in  this  shop,  but  his  interest  is  by  no 
means  confined  to  his  manufactory,  as  he  is  largely  interested  in  real  estate 
and  has  about  se\'enteen  houses,  which  he  rents.  These  houses  it  is  his 
pleasure  to  keep  in  first-class  condition,  as  he  believes  in  looking  to  the  com- 
fort of  his  tenants,  and  unlike  many  houses  of  that  class,  they  are  an  ornament 
to  their  neighborhood.  He  has  occupied  one  place  of  business  longer  than 
any  other  man  in  Salem. 

He  was  married  February  18,  1869,  to  Miss  Sarah  D.  Curry,  a  daughter 
of  John   Curry,  a  poultry  dealer  of  Elmer,  this  county.      They  reside  in  a 


no  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

|)leasant  lionie  at  the  corner  of  \\'anl  and  (Iriftitli  streets,  amid  innumerahle 
friends.  Four  children  were  born  to  them:  Francis,  wlio  (Hed  at  the  age  o! 
five  years;  Anna  F..  Mary  C.  and  A.  Norman.  Mr.  Hand  is  a  prominent 
Odd  Fellow,  as  was  his  father,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Encampment. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Amity  Social  CIuId  and  has  served  as  its  secretary  and 
treasurer  for  three  years.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Salem  County  Country 
Club.  He  possesses  a  remarkably  clear  perception  in  matters  of  business. 
which  makes  his  advice  much  sought  in  financial  affairs,  and  those  who  have 
profited  h\  his  wisdom  ha\e  no  cause  for  regret. 


JAMES  ^lECRAY.   M.   D. 

This  gentleman  is  accorded  a  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity 
of  Cape  Jklay  county,  and  the  extensive  practice  which  he  enjoys  is  an  indi- 
cation of  his  skill  and  ability.  Diligent  study,  resulting  in  comprehensive 
and  accurate  knowledge,  an  abiding  sympathy  and  a  deep-felt  interest  in  his 
fellow  men, — these  ha\'e  been  the  concomitants  of  his  success  and  have 
gained  him  prestige  as  a  representative  of  his  noble  antl  humane  calling. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Cape  May  City,  February  21 ,  1842.  and  is  a  son 
of  James  and  Mary  A.  (Mulford)  Mecray.  The  family  is  of  ScotchTrish 
origin,  and  the  first  of  the  name  to  locate  in  America  crossed  the  Atlantic 
from  the  country  of  hills  and  heather,  becoming  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Cape  May.  He  acted  as  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware  river,  but  died  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-four  years.  John  Mecray,  the  grandfather  of  the  Doctor,  re- 
sided at  Cape  May  and  was  also  a  pilot  on  the  river.  He  married  a  Miss 
Eldredge  and  three  children  were  born  to  them:  Jeremiah  Eldredge,  James 
and  Mrs.  Ann  M.  Teaming.  The  grandfather  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
seven  years. 

James  Mecray  was  born  at  Cape  ]\Iay.  and.  like  his  ancestors,  spent  his 
life  as  a  pilot  on  the  ri\'er.  However,  he  also  engaged  in  conducting  a  hotel 
through  the  sunmier  season,  being  the  proprietor  of  the  Delaware  House 
for  half  a  century.  It  was  liberally  patronized,  and  as  the  result  of  his  well 
directed  business  aft'airs  he  accumulated  a  handsome  competence.  He  in- 
vested some  of  his  capital  in  real  estate  and  was  the  owner  of  considerable 
valuable  property.  In  public  affairs  he  took  an  active  interest  and  was 
frequently  called  to  office  b\-  his  fellow  townsmen  who  recognized  and  ap- 
preciated his  worth  and  abilitw  He  ser\ed  as  city  treasurer  and  as  burgess, 
and  was  always  acti\e  in  the  local  affairs  of  the  village.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Democracy,  and  in  his  social  connections  he  was  an  Odd  Fel- 
low.   He  was  three  times  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Marv  Ann  Mil- 


CO\'GRESSJONAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEIF   JERSEY.  m 

ford,  l)y  wliom  he  had  six  children:  Mary  Jane,  the  eldest,  married  William 
S.  Schellinger,  a  boat-builder  at  Cape  May.  They  have  two  children:  Clar- 
ence and  Hulda,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Davis.  Julia  is  the  wife  of 
Edward  S.  Taylor  and  has  three  children:  James  E.,  who  married  Miss 
Marcy  and  is  a  leading  real-estate  dealer  of  Cape  May;  Julia;  and  Ella,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Kellon,  a  civil  engineer.  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Alexander  Marcy.  Alexander,  a  practicing  physician,  married  Lydia  Etress 
and  has  three  children:  James,  a  veterinary  surgeon;  Julia,  the  wife  of  Harry 
Hill;  and  Nancy  Ann.  Dr.  Alexander  Mecray  has  been  a  member  of  the 
stafif  of  physicians  of  the  Cooper  Hospital  in  Camden,  this  state,  since  its 
establishment,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  skillful  representatives  of 
the  medical  fraternity  in  the  state.  James  is  the  next  of  the  family.  Almira 
is  the  wife  of  Samuel  R.  Ludlam  and  has  three  children, — Harry,  Cora  and 
William. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  James  Mecray,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
married  Rachel  Steven,  and  they  had  one  daughter,  named  Rachel,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Dalby.  Eor  his  third  wife  he  married  Sarah  Schell- 
inger. The  mother  of  our  subject  died  May  6,  1861,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
seven  years,  and  his  father's  death  took  place  in  1892. 

Dr.  James  Mecray,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Cape  May  and  Philadelphia,  and  then  as  a  preparation 
for  a  life  work  entered  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1861.  He  subsequently  pursued  a  course  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1865.  Thus  well  equipped  for  his  chosen  calling,  he  opened  an 
office  in  Cape  May  and  has  since  enjoyed  a  steadily  increasing  practice, 
which  has  now  reached  extensive  proportions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cape 
May  County  Medical  Society.  In  1866  he  estabhshed  his  drug  store  and 
erected  a  handsome  business  block,  thirty  by  seventy  feet  and  two  stories  in 
height,  on  one  of  the  principal  corners  of  the  town.  He  now  has  a  large 
trade  which  justifies  the  employment  of  five  clerks.  During  the  civil  war 
the  Doctor  became  an  assistant  surgeon  in  the  navy  and  served  for  two 
years,  being  with  the  East  Gulf  Squadron  under  Admiral  Theodorus  S. 
Bailey.  He  is  now  a  member  of  John  Mecray  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  which  was 
named  in  honor  of  John  Mecray,  who  was  the  first  man  from  Cape  May 
county  killed  in  the  war,  his  death  occurring  in  the  battle  of  Williamsburg. 
The  Doctor  also  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  has  filled 
all  the  offices  in  the  local  lodge.  For  six  years  he  has  been  the  president  of 
the  Cape. May  council,  exercising  his  official  prerogatives  to  advance  all 
measures  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 


112  BfOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

On  the  8th  of  Xovemlier.  1865.  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Me- 
cray  and  Miss  EHzabeth  H.  Hughes,  a  daughter  of  All)ert  H.  Hughes.  They 
have  three  children.  Lizzie,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  P.  Logan  Bockius,  a 
coke  operator  of  \^irginia,  and  they  have  two  children, — Dorothy  and 
Logan.  Paul  Mulford.  who  was  educated  in  the  Philadelphia  high  school 
and  was  graduated  in  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  appointed  a  member  of  the  medical  staflf  of  the  Cooper  Hospital, 
in  Camden,  when  only  twenty-three  years  of  age.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  served  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fourth  New  Jersey 
Regiment.  Huldah,  the  youngest  child,  died  in  infancy.  The  family  is  one 
widely  known  in  Cape  May  county  and  its  circle  of  friends  is  limited  only 
i)y  the  circle  of  its  acquaintances.  The  Doctor  is  a  public-spirited  citizen 
who  aids  in  many  ways  in  promoting  the  general  progress,  manifesting  the 
same  loyalty  which  he  displayed  when  he  sailed  under  the  naval  ensign  of 
the  nation. 


WILLL\:\I   RICHMAN.  JR. 

Mr.  Richman.  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  large  canning  factories  of 
Daretown,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  ^^'hig  Lane,  this  state. 
July  14,  1858.  and  is  a  son  of  \\'illiam.  a  grandson  of  Jonathan,  and  a  great- 
grandson  of  \\'illiam  Richman.  Jonathan  Richman  moved  to  Pole  Tavern 
in  1818  and  was  a  tavern-keeper  for  a  short  time.  In  18 19  he  was  elected 
sheriflf  of  the  county  and  held  the  ofifice  three  years.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  in  the  county  and  faithful  to  public  interests. 

William  Richman  was  born  at  Pole  Tavern  and  took  an  active  part  in 
political  campaigns  when  he  reached  adult  years.  In  1859  he  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace  and  held  the  ofifice  thirty-one  years,  having  eight  hun- 
dred suits  tried  before  him  in  that  time,  only  two  of  them  being  appealed, 
and  in  no  case  was  his  judgment  reversed  by  a  higher  court.  He  lived  on 
one  farm  seventy-five  years  and  voted  for  fifty-six  consecutive  years.  He  was 
a  great  student,  reading  and  studying  when  all  his  household  was  asleep, 
and  in  this  way  he  mastered  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  and  at  the 
age  of  seventy  learned  the  French.  He  had  a  remarkable  memory  and  a 
fact  once  mastered  by  him  was  always  ready  for  future  reference,  while  his 
knowledge  of  the  law  made  his  opinions  much  sought  after  by  all  classes  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  his  sound,  logical  views  making  his  advice  always  a  safe 
guide  to  follow.  He  was  a  strong  politician  and  kept  an  intelligent  eye  on  all 
public  movements.     He  was  frequently  chosen  to  settle  up  estates  and  did 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEIJ'  JERSEY.  113 

so  in  a  manner  tliat  reflected  credit  on  liis  discernment.  He  died  October 
20,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  his  death  was  widely  mourned 
as  a  puliHc  calamity.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  to  Susan  Burt,  a  daughter 
of  Richard  Burt,  of  this  place.  She  died  leaving  one  child,  George  W.  She 
was  the  leader  of  the  choir  in  the  Daretown  church  and  took  an  active  interest 
in  all  phases  of  church  work.  After  her  death,  William  Richman  was  married 
to  Miss  Caroline  Foster,  who  died  June  12,  1885,  leaving  four  children, 
namely:  Linn  B..  a  storekeeper  of  Whig  Lane;  William,  Jr.,  of  Daretown; 
Fayette,  of  Philadelphia;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Furman  Xewkirk,  of  Elmer. 

George  W.  Richman  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  youth  and 
worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summer.  In  1875  William  Richman,  Sr..  pur- 
chased the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres,  upon  which  George  W. 
Richman  has  since  resided,  devoting  his  attention  to  general  farming  and 
truck  gardening.  He  was  the  township  collector  for  six  years  and  for  several 
years  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1891.  to  Miss  Kate  Van  Meter,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  B.  Van  Meter, 
of  a  prominent  family  of  this  section:  and  the  marriage  was  without  issue. 

W'illiam  Richman,  Jr.,  had  but  little  opportunity  to  attend  school,  but 
studied  diligently  at  night  and  secured  an  extensive  knowledge,  adding  to  it 
much  information  gained  from  observation,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  shrewd- 
est business  men  of  Salem  county.  \\'hen  he  reached  his  majority  his  father 
started  him  in  Inisiness  in  \\  hig  Lane  in  a  general  store,  which  he  conducted 
for  five  years,  when  he  came  to  Daretown  and  entered  into  partnership  with 
Mr.  Johnson,  who  had  been  his  clerk  at  Whig  Lane.  They  remained  to- 
gether until  1887,  when  Mr.  Richman  sold  out  his  interest  and  started  a 
canning  factory,  erecting  suitable  buildings  for  that  purpose  and  putting  in 
machinery  that  would  turn  out  five  hundred  thousand  cans  per  year.  The 
"Jersey  Blue"  is  his  brand,  and  his  product  meets  with  a  read}-  sale,  being 
one  of  the  most  popular  brands  on  the  market  to-day. 

Mr.  Richman  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  Rammel,  who  died  August 
6,  1890,  and  on  Alarch  2,  1892,  he  was  united  to  Miss  Laura  Keely.  a 
daughter  of  Ed\^■ar(l  Keely,  of  Allowav.  He  has  been  well  known  in  local 
Democratic  circles  and  in  1899  was  nominated  for  the  assembly,  but  declined 
the  honor.  He  was  postmaster  seven  years,  three  at  W'hig  Lane  and  four 
years  after  coming  to  Daretown.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  almshouse  of  Salem 
count}-.  He  is  no  less  popular  with  the  general  public  than  with  the  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  employes  of  his  factory,  who  esteem  him  as  kind  hearted  and 
generous.  He  has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in  matters  pertaining  to  the 
turf  and  is  the  president  of  the  Woodstown  Driving  Club,  also  of  the  alms- 
house board  this  year.  1900. 
n-H 


114  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

GEORGE    E.   PIERSON. 

F'romineni  in  ])olitical  circles  and  one  of  tlie  leading  citizens  of  \\'oo(l- 
burv,  George  E.  Pierson  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  Gloucester  county.  New 
Jersey,  in  1837.  his  ])arents  being  Joseph  Z.  and  Mary  (Gibson)  Pierson. 
The  father  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  in  April,  1807.  The  family  was  of 
English  and  Irish  descent,  but  was  founded  in  this  country  at  an  early  day. 
The  great-grandfather  was  probalily  a  native  of  Swedesboro, — the  birth- 
place of  John  Pierson,  the  grandfather.  The  mother  belonged  to  one  of  the 
old  Friends'  families  of  southern  New  Jersey,  founded  in  Woodbury  at  an 
early  period  in  the  development  of  the  town.  Her  father  was  Gideon  Gib- 
son. Joseph  Z.  Pierson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  blacksmith,  con- 
veyancer and  surx'eyor,  and  in  later  life  became  a  farmer.  He  continued  his 
residence  in  Swedesboro  until  1841,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  between  that 
place  and  Mullica  Hill,  where  he  lived  for  six  years.  He  then  took  up  his 
abode  on  a  farm  near  the  battle-ground  at  Red  Bank,  in  Gloucester  county. 
where  he  remained  for  four  years,  removing  thence  to  Blount  Ephraim. 
Camden  county,  in  185 1.  Subsequently  he  resided  on  a  farm  near  Wood- 
bury and  eventually  took  up  his  residence  in  that  city  in  the  spring  of  1854. 
there  making  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  May,  1857.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  early  life  and  later  became  a  Republican.  In  1841  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  by  Gloucester  county,  which  then  included 
Camden  county.  He  also  filled  the  ofifice  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  took  an 
active  and  commendable  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  public  wel- 
fare and  progress.  He  kept  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day  and  on 
all  matters  of  current  interest  and  was  a  leading  and  influential  citizen  of  his 
community,  who  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  for  good  upon  the 
policy  and  advancement  of  his  county.  In  business  he  was  strictly  reliable 
and  very  methodical,  and  in  his  early  life  he  was  known  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing surveyors  of  Gloucester  county.  In  his  family  were  eight  children: 
•Charles  L.,  who  is  living  on  a  farm  near  Woodbury;  Edward,  a  civil  engi- 
neer, who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years;  James  H.,  of  Woodbury, 
who  has  been  xtry  prominent  in  Democratic  circles  and  has  served  as  deputy 
sherifT;  George  E.,  of  this  review:  Joseph,  a  farmer,  who  became  a  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  E.  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  May  3,  1863;  Sarah  G..  deceased: 
Lydia  G.,  who  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Woodbury  school  for  thirty-four 
years;  and  Mary,  who  died  in  childhood.  The  mother  of  these  children 
lived  to  be  eighty-three  years  of  age,  her  liirlh  having  occurred  in  March. 
j8io,  her  death  on  the  loth  of  May,  1893. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  T13 

George  E.  Pierson,  whose  name  introduces  tliis  review.  s]ient  his  early 
])ovhood  days  upon  farms  near  Clarkshoro,  Red  Bank,  Mount  Epliraim  and 
Woodbury,  and  attended  the  district  schools  near  his  home.  In  1854  he 
entered  the  Constitution  printing  office,  where  he  worked  as  an  apprentice 
and  journeyman  for  a  period  of  twenty-three  years,  or  until  1877.  In  the 
latter  year  he  entered  the  employ  of  G.  G.  Green,  in  the  advertisement  de- 
partment of  his  extensive  patent-medicine  business,  continuing  in  that  posi- 
tion until  1889.  He  has  since  Ijeen  chiefly  employed  as  the  secretary  of  the 
Woodbury  Real  Estate  and  Mutual  Loan  Association,  one  of  the  largest 
building  and  loan  associations  in  the  state.  He  was  elected  to  this  position 
in  1 87 1,  and  during  his  twenty-nine  years  of  service  has  seen  the  receipts  of 
the  association  grow  from  four  hundred  to  eight  thousand  dollars  per  month. 

In  1874  Mr.  Pierson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Abigail  R.  Murphy, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  C.  ^lurphy.  of  Gloucester  county,  and 
they  have  two  children:  George  E..  who  is  now  twenty-six  years  of  age,  and 
is  employed  as  bookkeeper  by  the  A.  P.  Swoyer  Company,  of  Philadelphia: 
and  Augustus  B.,  who  is  a  clerk  in  the  Farmers'  &  Mechanics'  National 
Bank,  of  Woodbury.  The  family  attend  the  Episcopal  church  and  are  highly 
respected  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Pierson  is  an  active  Republican  and  has  always  taken  an  earnest  and 
intelligent  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  town  and  county.  He  began  his  public 
service  in  1864  as  the  town  clerk  of  old  Deptford  township,  when  it  included 
the  present  city  of  Woodbury  and  the  township  of  West  Deptford.  He 
served  in  that  capacity  until  the  city  of  Woodbury  was  incorporated,  in  1871, 
when  he  was  elected  city  clerk,  in  which  position  he  served  eight  years,  with 
distinguished  success.  He  had  also  served  six  years  as  borough  clerk  of  the 
old  borough  of  Woodbury.  In  1881  he  was  elected  a  memlier  of  the  council 
from  the  second  ward  of  the  citv  of  Woodbury,  and  served  one  term  of  three 
years.  In  1895  he  was  unanimously  elected  a  meml)er  of  the  l>oard  of  chosen 
freeholders  from  the  second  ward  of  the  city  of  Woodbury,  after  the  ward 
had  been  represented  by  a  Democrat  for  two  previous  terms.  He  was  then 
re-elected,  without  opposition,  in  1898.  Pie  has  always  served  on  the  com- 
mittee on  appropriations  and  other  important  committees  of  the  board,  and 
has  repeatedly  declined  the  director's  chair,  preferring  to  use  his  influence 
and  activity  on  the  floor  of  that  Ijody.  He  was  the  author  of  the  resolution 
of  petition  to  the  legislature  which  resulted  in  the  enactment  of  a  supple- 
ment to  the  state  aid  road  law  giving  enlarged  scope  to  the  powers  of  boards 
of  freeholders.  In  1890  Mr.  Pierson  was  appointed  the  private  secretary  of 
Henry  M.  Nevius,  the  president  of  the  senate,  and  the  same  year  was  made 
a  member  of  the  Gloucester  coimtv  lioarfl  of  elections,  of  which  he  has  been 


Ii6  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   Of   THE   TIRST 

president  continuously  since.  In  1898  and  1899  he  served  witli  consi^icuous 
success  as  private  secretary-  to  the  speaker  in  the  house  of  assembly,  Hon. 
David  O.  Watkins.  now  United  States  district  attorney  for  the  state  of  New 
Jersey.  In  1882,  tliough  strongly  urged,  he  refused  to  have  his  name  pre- 
sented for  nomination  for  the  office  of  county  clerk,  and  again  in  1892  re- 
fused to  enter  the  list  for  nomination  before  the  central  committee  as  a 
candidate  for  the  assembly.  He  consented  to  be  a  candidate  for  the  nomina- 
tion for  senator  in  1899,  but  failed  to  receive  the  nomination,  after  a  close 
contest.  He  has  since  been  elected  county  collector  and  treasurer,  by  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  board  of  freeholders. 

George  E.  Pierson  has  a  membership  connection  with  the  leading  fra- 
ternal orders  of  the  county.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Florence  Lodge. 
No.  87,  F.  &  A.  M.,  for  more  than  thirty  years,  served  for  three  years  as 
worshipful  master,  seven  years  as  secretary  and  is  now  serving  his  twelfth 
year  as  treasurer.  He  has  been  a  member  of  ]\Iariola  Lodge.  No.  9,  K.  P., 
for  more  than  thirty-one  years  and  has  served  continuously  as  the  keeper 
of  records  and  seal  of  the  lodge  during  the  entire  time,  and  was  the  grand 
keeper  of  records  and  seal  of  the  grand  domain  of  New  Jersey  from  February, 
1891.  until  the  22d  of  February,  1900.  He  has  been  a  memljer  of  Woodbury 
Lodge,  No.  4,  L  O.  O.  F.,  for  over  thirty-two  years,  and  is  the  past  grand 
and  past  deputy  grand  master  in  that  order.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
Provident  Conclave,  No.  47,  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  Guarantee 
Lodge,  No.  17,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  for  over  seventeen 
years,  in  each  of  which  he  has  served  as  the  secretar}-  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 


REUBEN  T.  JOHNSON. 

Reuben  Townsend  Johnson  was  born  at  Town  Bank,  Cape  May  county, 
Januar}'  16,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  S.  and  Melissa  (Garettson)  John- 
son. The  family  is  of  German  origin.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Erma  and  in  Eastman's  Business  College,  being  graduated  in 
the  latter  institution  with  the  class  of  1879.  He  then  spent  a  year  clerking 
in  a  drug  store  in  Philadelphia,  after  which  he  occupied  a  position  as  book- 
keeper in  that  city  and  then  became  timekeeper  and  forem.an  of  the  Rio 
Grande  Sugar  Company,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  three  years,  the 
diffusion  process  being  used  during  the  last  year  of  his  connection  with  that 
house.  On  leaving  that  position  he  came  to  Erma,  where  he  embarked  in 
general  merchandising.  He  now  carries  a  large  stock  of  goods  and  has 
built  up  an  excellent  trade,  which  is  constantly  growing  both  in  volume  and 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEIV   JERSEY.  117 

importance.  He  is  also  interested  in  oyster-planting-  and  ]JOund  fishery,  and 
the  two  departments  of  his  business  are  yielding-  to  him  good  financial  re- 
turns. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  1882,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Johnson  and  ]\Iary  H.  \\'hilldin,  and  there  have  been  born  two  children, — 
Martha  H.  and  Reuben  T.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics  and  is  a  \-ery  im- 
portant factor  in  political  and  church  circles  of  the  city  as  well.  He  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Tabernacle  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
is  serving  as  trustee,  steward,  and  Sunday-school  superintendent, — the  lat- 
ter for  eleven  years.  He  is  the  vice-president  of  the  Cape  May  County 
Sunday-school  Association,  while  in  1898  he  served  as  its  corresponding 
secretary.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  since  the  Harrison 
administration  has  served  as  the  postmaster  of  Erma,  while  for  ten  years  he 
filled  the  position  of  commissioner  of  deeds.  In  March,  1900,  he  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  for  the  term  of  five  years.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he 
has  been  actively  associated  with  the  business,  social,  political  and  moral 
interests  of  the  community  in  w  hich  he  resided  and  his  labors  have  been  most 
effective  in  promoting  their  welfare. 


RAYMOND  W.   BATTEN. 

Raymond  \\'.  Batten  is  a  son  of  Lucius  S.  and  Margaret  (Tash)  Batten, 
and  was  born  in  Deerfield  township,  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey.  No- 
vember 8,  1861.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Batten,  was  a  farmer  in  that 
township  and  a  pronounced  Republican.  While  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
he  was  a  constant  attendant  at  the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  a  con- 
scientious, upright  man.  He  married  a  Miss  Shull  and  among  the  children 
born  to  them  was  Lucius  S.,  the  father  of  our  sufjject. 

Raymond  W.  Batten  was  educated  in  the  private  schools  of  Alloway  and 
at  an  early  age  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cans,  being  associated  in  this 
work  with  John  Davis.  He  has  continued  to  follow  this  business  since,  put- 
ting in  the  work  energy  and  industry  and  making  of  it  a  successful  venture. 
In  1897  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Alloway.  and  is  so  courteous  and 
obliging  that  he  has  won  friends  among  all  classes  and  is  universally  liked. 
He  was  married  in  1888,  to  Miss  Winifred  Dorrell,  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Dorrell,  a  prominent  citizen  of  this  county,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page.  One  child,  Jessie  T.,  has  blessed  their  home.  Mr.  Batten  is  a  member 
of  the  State  Mutual  Building  S:  Loan  Association  and  is  the  secretarv  and 


ri8  BIOCRAI'lllCll-    IIISrORY   Ol-    run    tlRST 

treasurer  of  the  Ailoway  l)raiu-li.  lie  is  also  a  jirominent  Knioht  of  Pythias 
and  stantls  high  in  social  circles  where  his  <jenial  and  heart}-  good  nature 
make  him  a  general  favorite. 


I'.LLIS   11.  :\1.\RSH.\I.L. 


Among  the  jjublic  oflicers  of  New  Jersey  is  numhered  this  gentleman. 
who  is  now  rej>resentiug  his  district  in  the  state  legislature.  His  political 
career  is  an  irreiiroachahlc  one,  marked  by  loyalty  to  his  duties  of  citizenshi]) 
and  by  earnest  effort  in  behalf  of  the  interests  which  he  believes  will  prove 
the  greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  He  has  never  been  an  ofifice- 
seeker.  and  the  jiosition  has  come  to  him  as  a  merited  tribute  in  recognition 
of  his  worth  and  ability. 

.Mr.  Marshidl  is  a  son  of  Raudol|)h  and  Sarah  (Hughes)  Marshall,  and 
was  born  Se]>tend)er  18.  1845,  ''i  t'l*-"  town  of  Marshallville,  Cape  May  county. 
He  obtained  his  education  in  the  ])ublic  schools  of  Tuckahoe.  and  further 
continuetl  his  studies  in  the  (Jnaker  City  Business  College,  of  Philadelphia. 
In  1866  he  enteiTd  niion  his  l)usiness  career,  by  learning  the  harnessmaker's 
trade  in  Tuckahoe,  and  two  years  later,  in  1868,  he  came  to  Seaville,  where 
he  began  business  on  his  own  account  as  a  general  merchant,  successor  to 
Thomas  R.  Candy.  He  has  since  carried  on  operations  along  that  line  and 
is  now,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  James  L.,  under  the  firm  name 
of  James  L.  &  Ellis  H.  Marshall,  the  owner  of  three  stores.  They  have  a 
general  store,  thirty-five  by  eighty-five  feet,  a  harness  store  and  manufactory 
and  ;i  hardware  and  farming  implement  store.  They  also  own  the  hall  of 
the  town.  They  carry  the  largest  general  stock  in  southern  New  Jersey, 
valued  at  eight  thousand  dollars,  and  from  the  public  receive  a  very  liberal 
patronage,  which  is  constantly  increasing.  They  handle  coal,  wood  and 
carriages,  do  bl;ud<smitliing  am!  in  fact  deal  in  e\er\thing  that  is  demanded 
by  the  country  trade.  Mr.  Marshall  and  his  brother  James  L.  are  also  the 
owners  of  seven  farms  in  Cape  May  comity,  and  are  extensively  interested 
in  real  estate,  having  one  lumdre<l  and  seventy  lots  at  Ocean  City,  besides 
several  lots  at  Sea  Isle  City.  In  the  control  of  his  extensive  business  afi'airs 
he  displays  excellent  executive  ability.  Ambition  is  the  keynote  to  success, 
and  when  guided  by  sound  judgment  and  honest  ])ur]5ose  it  not  only  brings 
prosperity,  but  also  gains  an  honjir.able  name.  It  is  such  (|u;dities  that  have 
given  Mr.  Marshall  his  high  standing  in  business  circles  and  won  him  the 
respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

A  stanch   Republican  in  ])olitics.  he  has  served  for  t\vent\-se\'en  years 


^Ml^^^../lct^^z^iLMux^.^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY. 


119 


as  the  postmaster  of  Seaville.  and  has  administered  the  affairs  of  tlie  ofifice  in 
a  manner  that  has  won  him  highest  commendation.  In  1898  he  was  elected 
to  the  general  asseml)l\-,  and  again  in  1899  was  chosen  for  that  ofifice.  He 
has  studied  and  carefully  considered  the  questions  that  have  come  up  for 
decision  in  the  law-making  body  of  the  state,  and  has  supported  all  meas- 
ures which  he  Ijelieves  would  prove  of  public  benefit  to  his  county  and  state. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Upper  township,  having 
filled  that  position  for  many  years,  and  religiously  he  is  connected  with  the 
^Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  work  in  the  church  has  been  effective  and 
continuous.  He  is  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  the  recording 
steward  of  the  church  in  Seaville,  and  is  a  director  of  the  Seaville  camp- 
meeting.  No  cause  intended  to  uplift  humanity  seeks  his  aid  in  vain.  His 
son  Thomas  is  now  attending  Temple  College,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  is 
preparing  for  Yale  College.  In  Media  Academy  he  won  the  honors  of  the 
class  of  1898. 


DR.   JOHN.    H.    ASHCRAFT. 

For  forty-five  years  this  gentleman  was  connected  with  the  medical  pro- 
fession in  Gloucester  county,  and  his  skill  and  ability  gained  him  distinctive 
precedence  in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity.  He  is  now  practically  liv- 
ing retired,  having  through  his  well  directed  efforts  acquired  the  competence 
that  supplies  him  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  was  born  on  the  i  ith  of 
September,  1833,  near  Barnsboro,  New  Jersey,  and  is  a  representative  of 
an  old  New  England  family  that  was  founded  in  America  during  the  colonial 
epoch  of  our  country's  history.  The  grandfather,  Samuel  Ashcraft,  was  a 
native  of  the  Nutmeg  state,  but  became  a  resident  of  New  Jersey,  and  his  son 
John,  the  father  of  the  Doctor,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Gloucester.  Arriving 
at  years  of  maturity  he  married  Rhoda  Fisler,  an  aunt  of  Samuel  Fisler,  M. 
D..  of  Clayton,  and  a  cousin  of  Jacob  Fisler,  of  Clayton,  one  of  the  old-time 
physicians  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  became  a  resident  of  Mullica  Hill 
in  1800,  at  which  time  his  father  with  his  family  took  up  his  abode  there 
upon  a  farm  which  is  still  in  possession  of  his  descendants.  John  Ashcraft 
was  a  very'  prominent  and  successful  business  man.  He  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising and  in  the  lumber  business  in  Atlantic  county  and  at  one  time 
was  a  leading  wholesale  grocer  of  Philadelphia.  On  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland  he  built  a  number  of  vessels  and  became  largely  interested  in  the 
shipping  trade,  and  also  carried  on  an  extensive  lumber  business  in  that 
state,  making  money  rapidly.  He  then  invested  his  capital  in  land  in  Dela- 
ware and  became  the  proprietor  of  valuable  peach  orchards.     He  possessed 


I20  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

marked  executive  ability  and  keen  discernment  and  carried  forward  to  suc- 
cessful completion  whatever  he  undertook.  A  valued  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  he  served  for  forty-three  years  as  a  local  preacher 
of  that  denomination  and  held  many  offices  in  the  organization.  He  labored 
untiringly  for  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  cause  and  his  life  was 
an  upright  and  noble  one.  In  his  family  were  nine  children,  of  whom  three 
are  living:  Elizabeth  A.,  widow  of  Benjamin  Heritage,  of  Philadelphia; 
William,  a  practicing  physician  of  Smyrna,  Delaware;  and  John  H.  of  this 
review.  The  father  died  in  1868  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  1881,  leav- 
ing their  family  the  priceless  inheritance  of  an  untarnished  name. 

Dr.  Ashcraft  attended  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  and  also  pursued 
his  studies  in  the  academical  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
Determining  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work  he  then  matricu- 
lated in  the  JefYerson  Medical  College  wherein  he  was  graduated  in  1855. 
He  entered  upon  his  professional  career  in  Abingdon,  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  following  year  came  to  Mullica  Hill.  His  professional  career  was  at- 
tended with  excellent  success  and  he  enjoys  a  liberal  and  lucrative  patronage. 
His  knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine  is  extensive  and  exact  and  his 
perusal  of  medical  journals  keeps  him  thoroughly  in  touch  with  the  progress 
which  is  being  made  in  the  profession. 

Dr.  Ashcraft  was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  Sarah  E.  Turner,  a 
daughter  of  William  Turner,  of  Gloucester  county,  the  wedding  being  cele- 
brated January  11,  1865.  They  have  two  children:  Samuel  F..  a  practicing 
physician  of  Mullica  Hill,  and  Rhoda.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in 
the  community,  enjoying  the  friendship  of  many  of  the  best  people  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  They  occupy  an  elegant  home  which  is  celebrated  for 
its  charming  and  gracious  hospitality.  The  Doctor  is  a  very  pleasant  gentle- 
man of  courteous  manners,  possessing  those  sterling  traits  of  character  which 
ever  indicate  the  true  gentleman. 


C.   FLETCHER   MYERS. 

In  1892  Clement  Fletcher  Myers  purchased  the  old  Myers  homestead, 
comprising  ninety-four  acres  of  land,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and 
energies  to  its  operation  and  improvement.  He  was  born  here  on  the  i^ih 
of  November,  1863,  and  the  place  is  therefore  endeared  to  him  from  the 
associations  of  J:is  boyhood.  His  parents  were  Frederick  C.  and  Sarah 
(Pidgeon)  Myers,  the  former  a  son  of  Frederick  Myers  and  the  latter  a 
daughter  of  Nichcjlas  Pidgeon.     The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  1891,  at 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  121 

tlie  age  of  seventy-five  years,  and  the  motlier  passed  away  in  1880,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-four  years.  In  their  family  were  five  children:  Charles  F.,  who  re- 
sides in  New  York  city;  Josephine,  who  is  living  at  Center  Square;  Isabella, 
the  wfife  of  Jacob  Zane.  of  Center  Square;  Jennie,  who  is  also  living  at  that 
place;  and  C.  Fletcher. 

The  last  named  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
and  through  private  study.  He  has  been  an  extensive  reader,  and  this,  sup- 
plemented by  a  retentive  memory  and  keen  powers  of  observation,  has  made 
him  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  Logan  township.  During  his  youth 
he  became  familiar  with  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  assisted  his  father  until 
the  latter's  death.  The  year  following  he  purchased  the  old  family  home- 
stead at  Center  Square  and  has  since  tilled  the  fields  and  carried  on  the  work 
of  improvement,  his  labors  being  rewarded  by  good  harvests. 

On  the  /th  of  May,  1889,  Mr.  Myers  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  H.  Gill,  a  daughter  of  Stineman  and  Elizabeth  (Woodruff)  Gill,  of 
Logan  township.  They  have  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the  community  and 
are  favorably  known.  They  attend  the  Center  Square  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  Mrs.  Myers  is  a  member.  In  social  aflfiliations  Mr.  Myers 
is  connected  with  Swedesboro  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a  past 
master,  and  with  Bridgeport  Grange.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing representatives  of  the  Democratic  party  in  Gloucester  county,  has  for 
several  years  been  a  member  of  the  township  committee,  and  in  1896  was 
the  candidate  of  his  party  for  state  senator.  His  career  has  been  upright  and 
honorable,  and  his  friendship  is  prized  most  by  those  who  know  him  best. 


WILLIAM   CARNEY. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  leading  politicians  of  Salem 
county,  and  has  exercised  considerable  influence  in  Republican  circles  dur- 
ing the  past  quarter  of  a  centur}'.  As  constable  for  the  East  ward  of  Salem 
he  has  become  well  known  to  a  large  class  of  people  who  have  found  him 
to  be  valorous  and  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  He 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  the  neighboring  county  of  Glouces- 
ter in  the  village  of  Glassboro,  on  October  6,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Fennimore)  Carney,  highly  respected  residents  of  Salem  for  many 
years.  The  great-grandfather  came  to  the  United  States  from  Germany  and 
worked  in  the  first  glass  factory  erected  in  this  country.  This  was  built  by 
Air.  \\'istar  near  Alloway,  and  Mr.  Carney  w-as  one  of  the  most  skillful  glass- 
workers  employed  there.     His  son  David  lived  near  Glassboro  and  followed 


1.22  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PIRST 

the  vocation  of  a  fanner.  He  wa.s  con.';tal)le  for  fifteen  years,  being  elected 
on  the  Republican  ticket.  Among  his  cliildren  were  Isaac,  John.  David. 
William.  Emma.  Margaret.  Mary.  Reuben.  Elizabeth  and  Thomas. 

Isaac  Carney  was  the  eldest  of  the  family  and  w'as  born  in  Gloucester 
county  in  1819.  He  was  a  glass-blower  there  for  thirty-five  years  and  in 
1863  took  charge  of  the  factory  of  Hall.  Pancoast  &  Craven  as  the  manager 
and  remained  with  them  in  that  capacity  until  his  death  twenty-six  years 
later,  January  27,  1899.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  later  joined  forces 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  temperate  in  all  his  habits  and  was  never 
known  to  drink,  smoke  or  swear.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  stood  high  in  the  community.  His  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Fennimore  was  honored  by  the  birth  of  ten  children, — David, 
John,  William,  Sarah,  Joseph,  Anna,  Edward,  Catherine,  Mary  and  Hen- 
rietta. Their  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  is  survived  by  his 
venerable  wife,  who  died  in  August.  1899.  in  her  eighty-second  year. 

William  Carney  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Glassboro  au'l  left 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  to  take  up  arms  for  his  country,  enlisting  in  Company 
D.  Twenty-fourth  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  He  was  sent  to  the  seat  of  war 
and  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  fighting  at  Fredericksburg.  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  other  engagements  until  the  expiration  of  his  nine-months 
enlistment.  At  Fredericksburg  he  was  color  guard  of  tlie  regiment,  but 
was  fortunate  enough  to  escape  with  slight  injuries  from  the  concussion  and 
bursting  of  a  shell.  He  is  now  an  honored  member  of  Johnson  Post,  No. 
69.  at  Salem  and  has  served  as  commander  of  the  post.  Returning  home  he 
learned  the  trade  of  glass-blower  and  worked  at  it  for  nine  years,  when  ill 
health  obliged  him  to  seek  some  other  employment,  and  he  opened  a  cigar 
and  tobacco  store.  This  he  conducted  a  short  time  until  1878,  when  he  was 
elected  the  constable  of  Salem  and  has  held  the  post  ever  since.  During  the 
twenty  years  of  his  ofifice  he  has  served  every  grand  jury  three  times  a  year, 
does  all  the  court  business  and  has  made  thirty-fi\e  hundred  arrests.  Three 
times  has  it  been  necessary  to  shoot  his  man  in  order  to  bring  him  in  and 
five  others  it  was  necessary  to  shoot  at.  He  has  arrested  a  great  many 
notorious  characters  in  different  parts  of  the  county  and  has  never  been 
lacking  in  courage  and  bravery.  For  eighteen  years  past  he  has  been  court 
detective,  and  has  been  coroner  of  the  county  since  1896.  He  was  a  candi- 
date for  sheriff  in  1884.  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  vote.  He  has  been  in- 
spector for  the  board  of  health  eight  years  and  has  been  so  \igilant  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  that  a  perceptible  improvement  is  noticed  in  the 
health  of  the  city  in  general. 

Mr.  Carnev  was  united  in  marriage  ]u\\  u.  1866,  to  ^liss  Hem-ietta  Bar- 


COXGRESSJOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   XEJV   JERSEY.  123 

nart,  by  wliom  lie  has  eight  cliiUh-en,  \'iz.:  Isaac,  editor  of  tlie  Spring  City 
Sun,  of  Spring  City,  Pennsylvania,  married  Miss  Maggie,  daughter  of  Rev. 
George  Neal,  a  clergyman  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination;  Eliza- 
beth married  Warren  Keen,  a  farmer  and  carpenter;  William  T.  is  at  home; 
Edward  is  a  glass-blower  and  married  Mary  J.  Kirk;  Richard  also  is  a  glass- 
blower;  and  Elsie.  Charles  C.  and  Aha  B.  are  at  home. 


JOSEPH    H.    BOONE. 

Joseph  H.  Boone,  a  leading  mason  of  Salem,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey, 
was  born  July  7.  1863,  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  as  was  his  father, 
Joseph  E.  Boone.  The  grandfather,  Joseph  A.  Boone,  was  a  shoemaker  Ijy 
trade  and  resided  in  Canton  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  one  of  whose  ministers  spoke  the  words 
that  made  Ann  Hahn  his  wife.  She  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  dying  in  1898, 
in  her  eighty-fifth  year.  Their  children  were  Joseph.  John.  Sarah  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

Joseph  E.  Boone  was  for  many  years  a  farmer  in  his  native  township, 
later  followed  the  same  vocation  in  Penn's  Neck  and  Mannington  townships 
and  then  moved  to  Penn's  Grove  and  engaged  in  the  creamery  business. 
He  was  a  Democrat  and  an  earnest  and  enthusiastic  advocate  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party,  but  was  ne\er  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  chose  as  the 
partner  to  share  the  vicissitudes  of  life  with  him  Miss  Sallie  S.  Wood,  who 
bore  him  four  children:  Harriet,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
Sheppard  L. ;  Joseph  H.,  our  subject,  and  Nettie  S.,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Summerill. 

Joseph  H.  Boone  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  dis- 
trict and  Penn's  Neck  township,  and  then  returned  to  his  father  and  assisted 
him  in  the  farm  duties.  As  he  did  not  care  to  make  the  vocation  of  farming 
his  life  work  he  was  apprenticed  for  six  }ears  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  brick 
mason,  and  at  the  ex])iration  of  that  time  did  journey  work  for  a  year.  A 
partnership  was  then  formed  with  Robert  A.  Brandif¥  in  1893,  ^^i^  the  firm 
of  Brandiff  &  Boone  soon  had  all  the  work  they  could  do.  He  was  aj)- 
pointed  under  the  civil-service  law  as  a  master  mason  to  work  for  the  govern- 
ment and  for  three  years  was  engaged  in  l)uilding  fortifications  at  Fort  Mott. 
Fort  Delaware  and  Delaware  city,  putting  in  the  fine  masonry  at  these 
points.  He  also  did  an  extensive  work  for  private  indi\'iduals,  much  of  the 
masonry,  tiling,  cementing,  etc.,  being  the  work  of  his  hand  and  a  credit 
to  his  skill. 


124  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

On  March  24.  i88g,  he  was  united  in  the  htily  bonds  of  matrimony  to 
Miss  Harriet  S.  Cogill.  daughter  of  John  H.  Cogill,  a  carriage-builder  and 
upholsterer  of  Salem.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  during  his  life-time  and 
was  elected  to  many  offices  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  representing  the  state 
in  the  legislature  for  two  or  three  terms.  He  was  born  in  Long  Island,  Xew 
York,  and  came  to  Salem  in  early  manhood,  where  he  met  and  married 
iliss  Charlotte  J.  Morrison.  They  had  four  children:  Anna  L.,  who  died 
young;  Harriett,  the  wife  of  our  subject:  D,  Stratton:  and  Mamie  X'.  Mr. 
Cogill  died  January  25,  1895,  ^t  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  wife 
(lied  in  January  of  the  same  year,  reaching  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boone  has  been  blessed  by  one  child,  a  bright, 
handsome  little  girl,  Edna  N.,  who  is  the  light  of  their  home.  Mr.  Boone  is 
a  Democrat,  but  takes  little  part  in  political  measures.  He  was  formerly  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  has  con- 
tributed his  full  share  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Salem. 


LOUIS  M.  JOHNSON. 

Louis  M.  Johnson,  mediant  and  postmaster  at  Daretown,  Salem  county, 
has  made  a  wide  acquaintance  through  this  part  of  the  state  and  built  up  a 
business  which  places  him  among  the  permanently  established  men  of  the 
city,  and  Daretown  is  especially  fortunate  in  having  among  her  citizens  this 
gentleman,  whose  enterprise  not  only  assures  his  own  success  but  in  so  doing 
makes  friends  for  the  village  as  well.  He  was  1)orn  w  ithin  a  short  distance 
of  this  locality,  on  April  4,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Harrison  and  Emily  (Rich- 
mond) Johnson.  His  ancestors  came  to  this  country  w  ith  Sir  John  Fenwick. 
when  he  settled  in  Salem  county. 

Harrison  Johnson  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Johnson,  a  native  of  old  Pittsgrove 
town  and  the  sheriff  of  the  county.  He  was  the  last  man  to  use  the  whip 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  office,  and  the  cat-'o-nine-tails  with  which 
he  impressed  the  dignity  of  the  law  upon  his  unwilling  guests  still  adorns 
the  walls  of  the  old  jail.  Harrison  was  born  in  old  Pittsgrove  town  and 
moved  to  this  township  about  1842,  where  he  died,  in  February,  1898.  He 
married  Miss  Emily  Richmond,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Albert  R..  of  W'oodstown:  Louis  'SI.,  our  subject;  Harr}- 
W.,  of  Elmer;  and  Lizzie,  Mrs.  John  Scliade,  of  Pittsgrove.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Moses  Richmond,  of  ^^'hig  Lane,  who  was  a  prominent  Demo- 
crat of  this  countv  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  lesfislature:  and  she  was 


COA'GKESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  125 

a  cousin  of  \\  .  A.  ^^'ood,  also  of  \\  liig  Lane,  who  is  represented  elsewhere 
in  this  biography.     She  died  in  1885. 

L.  M.  Johnson  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  lioyhood  and  at  an 
early  age  began  teaching  in  this  township,  at  Shirley  and  Pole  Tavern. 
After  tW'O  years  spent  in  this  employment  he  came  to  Daretown  and  with 
William  Richman.  Jr..  opened  the  store  now  conducted  by  him.  After  a 
partnership  lasting  two  years,  Mr.  Richman  retired  from  the  firm,  in  1887. 
and  'Sir.  Johnson  conducted  it  alone  and  has  been  prosperous.  He  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  the  village  and  served  throughout  the  Harrison 
administration,  and  he  again  received  the  appointment  in  April,  1899.  He 
makes  himself  a  popular  man  for  the  place  by  being  courteous  and  obliging 
in  his  treatment  of  the  patrons. 

He  married  Miss  Mary  Yapp,  of  Berlin,  Camden  county.  New  Jersey,  on 
October  12,  1888,  and  has  one  child,  Lewis  N.  She  is  a  member  of  and  an 
indefatigable  worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
trustee.  Their  home  is  one  of  the  pleasant  spots  in  Daretown  and  contains 
some  rare  relics  in  the  shape  of  the  ancient  furniture  belonging  to  Mr.  John- 
son's ancestors  and  an  old  fowling  piece  formerly  used  by  them.  Mr.  John- 
son is  a  prominent  Republican  of  the  county  and  is  an  upright,  honorable 
gentleman  whose  straightforward  dealings  have  made  him  universally  re- 
spected. 


T.  \\'.  STANGER. 


T.  \\  .  Stanger.  deceased,  is  well  remembered  as  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Williamstown,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  who  was  ever 
ready  to  give  substantial  aid  to  an}-  worthy  cause  or  assist  in  any  enterprise 
that  promised  to  benefit  the  community.  He  was  born  December  10.  181 1. 
in  the  village  of  Glassboro,  and  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Stanger.  He  learned 
the  business  of  glass-making  and  while  yet  quite  young  went  to  Brooklyn 
and  took  charge  of  the  glass  factory  owned  by  John  Marshall,  meeting  with 
a  merited  success  in  its  management  for  a  long  term  of  years.  About  the 
year  1848  he  built  a  factory  of  his  own  at  New  Brooklyn  and  operated  this 
in  connection  with  the  Marshall  factory  until  the  latter  was  burned.  It  was 
a  portion  of  Mrs.  Stanger's  inheritance  from  her  father's  estate.  He  con- 
tinued manufacturing  at  New  Brooklyn  until  1875,  when  he  retired  from 
the  business.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  and  owned  four  hundred  acres 
of  land. 

Mr.  Stanger  was  united  in  marriage  July  16.  1835.  to  ]Mrs.  Elizalieth 
(Marshall)  Stanger,  widow  of  Frederick  Stanger  and  daughter  of  John  Mar- 


126  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE   PIRST 

sliall.  l)efore  mentioned.  Mrs.  Stanger  was  a  woman  of  ]nn"e  Cliristian 
character  and  lofty  ideals,  who  foimd  her  chief  pleasure  in  ministering  to 
her  family  and  to  those  who  were  in  need  of  friendly  assistance.  They  were 
prominent  workers  in  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Stanger  was  one  of  the  founders  in  Glassboro  and  held  various  offices,  as 
steward,  trustee,  etc.  He  was  many  times  selected  as  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
ference and  was  a  most  exemplary  man.  He  was  very  temperate  in  his 
habits,  never  indulged  in  tobacco  or  liquor,  and  was  of  a  genial,  kindly  natur,e 
that  made  him  uni\-ersally  beloved.  Three  children  were  bom  to  them. 
Frances  A.,  ]Mrs.  I.  Johnson  Xewkirk,  now  of  Daretown;  Isabella  J.  and 
Elizabeth  C.  deceased.  The  daughters  are  well  known  in  this  and  Salem 
counties.  Mrs.  Stanger  died  in  January,  1877,  and  Mr.  Stanger  on  Februan.- 
23,  1892.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  couple  who  had  so  won  the  affec- 
tions of  the  general  public  and  whose  death  was  the  cause  of  such  genuine 
and  widespread  sorrow,  and  it  will  be  many  years  that  loxing  lips  will  speak 
their  eulogy. 


HENRY  BENXETT. 


Henry  Bennett  was  born  in  Cape  May  citv.  April  8,  i860,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Emma  (Bennett)  Bennett.'  His  maternal  grandfather,  William 
Bennett,  was  also  a  native' of  Cape  May  city  and  throughout  his  life  was 
a  pilot  on  the  Delaware  river,  aS  was  his  father,  Aaron  Bennett.  For  si.xty 
years  his  grandfather  was  engaged  in  taking  vessels  up  and  down  the  river. 
every  shoal  and  turn  of  which  he  knew  perfectly.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  was  a  stalwart  Democrat,  unswen-ing  in  his  allegiance  to  the  principles 
of  his  party.  He  belonged  to  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  held  office, 
and  his  life  was  a  busy,  useful  antl  honorable  one.  He  married  Phoebe 
Schillinger  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  William 
J.,  who  married  Henrietta  Hand  and  was  also  a  pilot  on  the  river;  Albert, 
who  engaged  in  the  painting  business  in  Cape  May  and  was  twice  married, 
for  his  first  wife  choosing  Martha  Kauns  and  for  his  second  Lizzie  Small- 
good;  John,  who  married  Allie  Lennan  and  was  a  pilot,  residing  at  Cape 
May;  George,  who  married  Sallie  Richardson,  and  followed  the  painter's 
trade:  James  P.,  also  a  painter  at  Cape  May.  who  married  Emma  Richard- 
son for  his  first  wife  and  after  her  death  wedded  Clara  Ludlam;  and  Polly. 
the  wife  of  H.  Moore,  a  painter  at  Cape  May.  The  father  of  these  children 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Our  subject's  parents  resided 
in  Cape  Ma_\-.  but  his  father  died  when  he,  the  son,  was  only  a  year  old:  and 
his  mother  ])assed  away  a  few  years  later,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six. 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEIJ'   JERSEY.  127 

Thus  left  an  orphan.  Henry  Bennett  made  his  home  with  his  sjrandfathei- 
and  pursued  his  studies  in  the  common  schools  until  sixteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  entered  upon  his  life  work  as  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware'.  He  ser\^ed 
an  apprenticeship  of  six  years,  until  the  river  became  to  him  as  the  country 
lane  to  the  father's  son  who  each  morning  and  evening  drives  his  cows 
through  the  well  known  highway  until  ever>-  object  along  the  way  is  per- 
fectly familiar  to  him.  Thus  with  the  river,  its  winding  course  became  a 
familiar  path  to  him.  and  hundreds  are  the  mighty  vessels  which  he  has 
safely  guided  through  its  waters,  as  they  have  borne  their  valuable  cargoes 
to  the  sea  or  brought  them  to  the  city  market. 

All  through  these  years  Mr.  Bennett  has  resided  in  Cape  May  and  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  many  of  its  publit  interests.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  socially  he  is  a  representative  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  \\'orkmen,  the  Heptasophs,  the  Red  Men  and  the  Petit  organiza- 
tion. He  was  actively  associated  with  the  militan"  interests  of  the  state 
through  his  membership  in  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment  of  the  New  Jersey 
National  Guard,  in  which  he  served  for  five  years.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Cape  May  volunteer  fire  department,  and  is  a  consistent  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  takes  an  active  part.  He  is  the 
president  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  of  Cape  May,  which  is  composed  of  sixtv-six 
boys,  from  the  various  churches.  This  was  organized  in  1896  for  the  pur- 
pose of  interesting  the  boys  in  church  work  with  the  ultimate  object  of 
inducing  them  to  become  members  of  the  church. 

The  home  relations  of  Air.  Bennett  are  ver\'  pleasant.  He  was  married 
September  5,  1882,  to  Miss  Hannah  Lee,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Lee,  who 
was  a  butcher  of  Cape  May  county,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
two  children,— John  and  Ada.  Mr.  Bennett  is  greatly  devoted  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  family  and  regards  no  personal  sacrifice  too  great  that  will 
enhance  the  welfare  or  promote  the  happiness  of  his  wife  and  children.  He 
is  an  honorable  upright  man,  faithful  to  every  duty  of  public  and  private 
hfe  and  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


WILLIAM   OUGH. 


\\'illiam  Ough  was  born  in  Cornwall.  England,  Julv  13.  1821,  and  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  (Hambly)  Ough.  His  great-grandfather.  George 
Ough,  was  a  resident  of  that  country  and  was  a  stone-mason  by  trade. 
Three  sons  comprised  this  family,— Richard,  John  and  William.  Richard 
Ough,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  parish  o£  St.  Cieer, 


128  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Cornwall,  linglaiul.  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  mason  and  was  a  con- 
tractor and  Ijnilder  of  good  repute,  and  was  a  zealous  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  He  married  Elizabeth  Williams,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  namely:  Joan,  Richard,  Samuel.  Betsey.  Jennie  and  John.  His 
death,  which  occurred  in  1803,  was  the  result  of  an  accident.  He  was  thrown 
from  a  colt  which  he  was  riding  and  ruptured  a  blood  vessel,  from  the  efifects 
of  which  he  died.  His  wife  lived  until  she  attained  her  eighty-fifth  or  eighty- 
sixth  year,  in  1830. 

Samuel  Ough,  the  father,  was  born  at  Cornwall,  England,  in  1784,  and 
followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  fathers  by  becoming  a  mason  of  ability  and 
skill.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  of  St. 
Cleer  parish,  and  for  fifty  years,  up  to  the  age  of  seventy-six,  was  clerk  of 
the  parish,  keeping  all  the  church  records.  He  was  united  in  w^edlock  with 
Miss  Anna  Hambly,  and  their  children  are  now  widely  scattered  over  the 
earth.  Mary  was  born  in  1812;  Ann  was  bom  in  1814:  Richard,  in  1816: 
Elizabeth,  in  1818;  William,  in  1821;  Jane,  in  1823,  and  died  in  1856,  in 
New  Castle,  Pennsylvania:  Maria  in  1824  and  married  a  Mr.  Rundell.  of 
Colchester,  Illinois;  and  Samuel,  in  1828,  and  died  near  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton. The  father  of  these  children  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six 
years  when  he  passed  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  in  1869. 
His  wife  entered  the  dreamless  sleep  in  her  si.xty-seventh  year,  in  1853. 

William  Ough  attended  the  private  schools  of  his  native  parish  in  Corn- 
wall, England,  until  he  attained  his  eleventh  year,  when  he  learned  the 
mason's  trade  of  his  father,  continuing  to  work  with  him  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age  when,  in  1848.  he  came  to  America  with  his  sisters  and 
brothers.  Locating  in  Salem.  New  Jersey,  he  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  for  a  short  time  and  then  engaged  in  operating  a  steam  engine,  which 
position  he  followed  for  eleven  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
opened  a  grocery  and  has  been  in  that  business  ever  since.  He  has  built 
up  a  good  class  of  trade  and  endeavors  to  please  his  patrons  by  selling  them 
just  the  article  they  want,  gaining  a  reputation  for  courtesy  and  affability 
that  adds  much  to  his  popularity. 

Mr.  Ough  was  married  ]\Iay  18,  185 1.  to  ?^Iiss  ^lary  Hambler,  a  daughter 
of  John  Hambler  of  England.  Their  children  were  John  and  Elizabeth, 
twins,  who  died  in  infancy,  as  did  Alary,  who  was  born  March  12,  1856;  Anna 
was  born  August  27,  1857,  and  married  Wilber  Hutchinson,  of  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  a  molder.  on  June  25,  1899;  Samuel,  born  February  5,  1859,  was 
married  November  25,  1886,  to  Lilly  Pierpont,  by  whom  he  has  two  chil- 
dren.— William  and  Edwin.  Mr.  Ough  is  a  prominent  member  and  vestry- 
man of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  is  not  attached  to  any  party. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  129 

using  his  intelligent  convictions  in  deciding  which  candidate  is  best  suited 
to  fill  the  requirements  of  office.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  New  Jersey 
Building  &  Loan  Association  and  is  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow,  being  a 
member  of  Washington  Lodge.  Xo.  21.  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  also  of  the  Encamp- 
ment. He  has  been  the  honored  treasurer  of  the  lodge  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  every  one  who  knows  him. 


THOMAS   STAXGER. 

Xo  resident  of  Temperanceville  did  more  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  town 
than  Thomas  Stanger.  and  at  his  death  the  community  mourned  the  loss 
of  its  most  valued  citizen.  He  was  born  at  Marshallville,  X'ew  Jersey, 
February  16.  1821,  and  died  July  23,  1883.  His  grandfather.  Philip  Stanger. 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Glassboro,  and  lies  buried 
in  the  churchyard.  He  and  his  six  brothers,  in  fact,  created  the  town.  He 
established  the  glass  factory  at  Ouinton's  Bridge,  and  was  actively  inter- 
ested in  both  the  business  and  general  affairs  of  his  community.  Frederick 
Stanger.  the  father  of  Thomas  Stanger,  was  born  in  Glassboro  and  in  early 
life  learned  the  business  which  occupied  his  father's  attention.  He  after- 
ward established  a  glass  factory  at  Xew  Brooklyn,  but  died  before  it  was 
fairly  in  operation. 

Thomas  Stanger  spent  his  early  days  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and 
there  learned  the  glass-makers'  trade,  to  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
throughout  his  business  career.  He  took  up  his  abode  in  Temperanceville, 
and,  with  Eben  '\\'hitney,  purchased  the  glass  factory  which  had  been  estab- 
lished by  Lewis  and  Jacob  Stanger  at  that  place.  Subsequently  he  was 
associated  in  business  with  W'oodward  Warrick  and  conducted  enterprises 
which  contributed  largely  to  the  upbuilding  and  prosperity  of  the  town.  He 
was  a  progressive  and  wide-awake  business  man,  and  his  labors  brought  him  a 
comfortable  competence.  He  was  indeed  a  leading  spirit  in  Temperance- 
ville, and  after  his  death  the  town  ceased  to  enjoy  the  prosperity  which  it 
had  previously  known. 

Mr.  Stanger  was  united  in  marriage  to  Hannah  H.  Harding,  a  daughter 
of  Hon.  Benjamin  Harding,  who  was  long  the  county  judge  and  a  leading 
and  influential  citizen  of  Clayton.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanger  were  born 
four  children,  of  whom  three  are  living:  Man.-,  Anna  and  Eleanor,  the  last 
named  being  the  wife  of  Oliver  Townsend,  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  March,  1890.  In  his  political  views  ^Ir. 
Stanger  was  a  Republican,  and  while  in  Pittsburg  served  as  a  member  of 


I30 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


the  city  council.  Socially  he  was  connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows'  society, 
but  his  interest  centered  in  his  home,  and,  outside  of  business  hours,  he  found 
his  greatest  pleasure  in  the  midst  of  his  family.  He  was  a  man  of  unques- 
tioned integrity  and  worth,  and  his  business  career  gained  for  him  not  only 
prosperity  but  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  was  associated. 


SAMUEL  P.   FOSTER. 


Samuel  P.  Foster,  editor  of  the  Elmer  Times,  Elmer,  Salem  county, 
Xew  Jersey,  was  born  November  13,  1859,  near  Newport.  Cumberland 
county,  New  Jersey,  son  of  Charles  C.  and  grandson  of  Isaac  P.  Foster,  both 
natives  of  Cumberland  county,  this  state,  and  the  latter  Ijorn  at  Alillville.  that 
county. 

The  Fosters  are  of  English  origin.  Four  brothers  of  that  name  came 
from  England  to  this  country  in  colonial  days  and  soon  after  their  arrival 
here  scattered,  one  settling  in  New  England,  one  on  Long  Island,  one  in 
East  Jersey,  and  one — Samuel — at  Cape  May.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
comes  from  that  branch  of  the  family  of  which  Samuel  was  the  progenitor. 
The  date  of  Samuel  Foster's  l^irth  is  not  known,  but  the  records  show  that 
his  grandson,  Ezekiel  Foster,  was  born  September  20,  1729. 

Isaac  P.  Foster,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  went  to  Cape  May  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  the  shore  from  the 
British.  He  had  a  brother  who  was  a  prominent  politician  and  who  w-as 
for  several  terms  a  member  of  the  New^  Jersey  council  before  the  adoption 
of  the  present  constitution.  Charles  C.  Foster,  the  father  of  Samuel  P.,  was 
a  farmer  and  oysterman  in  Cumberland  county.  While  not  a  public  man, 
he  took  an  interest  in  local  affairs  and  for  three  terms  served  as  assessor  of 
his  township.  He  was  a  strong  temperance  advocate  and  a  man  of  deep 
piety,  for  twenty-five  years  identified  with  the  Sons  of  Temperance  and  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Such  was  his  every-day 
life  that  it  harmonized  with  the  religion  which  he  professed.  He  died  October 
8,  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  His  wife,  who  before  her  marriage 
was  Miss  Eunice  Socwell,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  in  which  he  was 
born,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Sherred  Socwell,  a  prominent  and  highl\-  re- 
spected citizen  of  Cumberland  county.  She  died  in  1862.  The  children  of 
this  worthv  couple  were  five  in  number,  as  follows:  Samuel  P.;  Benjamin, 
of  New  York  city;  Mrs.  Mary  Henderson,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania; 
Miss  Theodosia,  of  Elmer,  New  Jersey:  and  Mrs.  Josephine  Boon,  also  of 
Elmer. 


^cu^i^uiyi^    f^^cj^xhy^ 


COA'GRESS/OXAL   DISTRICT    OF   XEir   JERSEY.  131 

When  Samuel  P.  was  a  boy  oi  tliirteeii  his  father's  home  was  broken  up, 
and.  voung  as  lie  was,  he  started  out  in  lite  to  hustle  for  himself.  For  a  time 
he  worked  in  a  country  store  for  his  board  and  clothes,  and  later  on  a  farm, 
for  the  same  wages,  on  an  oyster  boat  as  a  cook,  and  on  a  freighting  vessel 
as  a  deck  hand.  At  the  age  of  twenty  we  find  him  occupying  a  position  as 
a  salesman  for  C.  O.  Newcomb.  proprietor  of  a  flouring  mill  at  Cedarville, 
New  Jersey,  with  whom  he  remained  seven  years.  This  position  he  left  to 
accept  one  on  the  Temperance  Gazette,  of  Camden.  New  Jersey,  and  in 
May.  1887.  he  became  identified  with  the  paper  of  which  he  is  now  editor 
and  proprietor.  In  this  connection  a  brief  history  of  the  press  of  Elmer  is 
not  amiss. 

The  first  issue  of  the  Elmer  Gazette  was  published  August  8,  1885,  by 
Edwin  Facey,  although  there  had  been  an  attempt  to  start  a  paper  here 
some  time  previous  to  that,  if  we  inistake  not,  by  Air.  Maynard.  who  after- 
ward published  the  Glassboro  Enterprise.  Mr.  Facey  continued  the  Gazette 
until  January  2t,.  1886.  The  following  July.  John  L.  Davis,  of  Philadelphia, 
invested  several  hundred  dollars  in  the  paper,  changing  it  to  the  Elmer 
Times.  By  September  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Davis  had  lost  part  of  his 
money  and  all  of  his  confidence  in  his  ability  to  make  a  success  of  the  Elmer 
Times  and  he  was  glad  to  find  a  firm  w  ilHng  to  take  it  of?  his  hands  and  agree 
to  pay  a  small  rental  for  the  type  and  machinery.  Air.  Reeve  and  Rev.  S.  H. 
Hann  took  the  plant  from  Mr.  Davis  and  injected  new  life  in  it  at  once.  In 
May.  1887,  it  seemed  to  be  almost  at  a  standstill  and  there  were  rumors  that 
it  might  be  moved  to  another  place  when  the  present  editor  cast  his  lot  with 
it,  with  little  to  help  the  enterprise  along  except  his  good  will,  push  and 
natural  ability.  He  was  in  partnership  with  the  Reeve  Brothers  until  October 
27,  1889,  at  which  date  the  Times  had  made  a  place  and  a  name  for  itself. 
The  whole  plant,  which  had  doul)led  several  times  in  value  by  increased 
business  and  the  addition  of  machinery,  was  purchased  by  the  present  pub- 
lisher, who  paid  for  the  two-thirds  held  by  his  partners  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  cash  and  assumed  all  the  debts, 
which  were  considerable.  A  silent  partner  was  then  admitted  and  the  paper 
published  by  the  Elmer  Times  Company^  for  three  or  four  years,  when  it 
was  again  purchased  entire  by  the  present  publisher.  The  success  Mr.  Foster 
has  achieved  in  bringing  his  paper  to  the  front  is  ample  evidence  of  the  all- 
around  qualifications  he  possesses  as  an  editor.  Especially  in  the  line  of 
advertisement  writing  has  he  gained  notoriety,  having  several  times  been 
the  recipient  of  cash  prizes  in  competitive  contests.  In  1897  he  won  one 
of  the  Printers"  Ink  prizes  of  two  hundred  dollars  cash  oflfered  by  George 
P.  Rowell  tS:  Company,  of  New  York. 


13^ 


niOCRAl'IilCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


l'"r;ucrnally.  Mr.  Foster  is  idciltirtcd  with  Elmer  Lodge,  No.  i6i, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  local  lodge  of  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M.. 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.,  Sons  of  Temperance  and  Heptasophs. 
Religiously  he  is  a  Presbyterian,  and  since  he  was  twenty-eight  vears  old  he 
has  been  an  elder  in  the  church. 

He  was  married  December  i6,  1884,  to  Miss  Fanny  Batcman,  a  member 
of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Cedarville,  Cumberland  county.  The\-  have  four 
children, — Hurbert,  Mulford,  Rosenna  and  Preston. 

In  October,  1899,  the  veteran  cx-editor,  J-  H-  C.  .\ppelgate,  paid  the 
following  voluntary  tribute  in  print  to  the  Fdnicr  Times  and  its  editor: 

" Neither  the  place,  the  chance,  nor  the  backing  had  so  much  to  do  in 
making  the  Elmer  Times  (the  largest-circulated  weekly  in  this  part  of  the 
countrx)  as  the  especial  fitness  for  the  work  and  drive  of  its  present  pro- 
prietor. It  has  been  demonstrated  that  fully  one-half  of  all  the  American 
newspapers  print  and  circulate  far  less  than  seven  hundred  copies  each  issue 
and  that  a  list  of  more  than  ten  thousand  newspapers  can  be  made  up  among 
which  no  single  one  prints  regularly  so  many  as  a  thousand  copies,  and  yet 
the  Times  in  a  little  borough  of  about  ele\'en  hundred  population  issues 
weekl\-  not  less  perhaps  than  two  tliousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  paid  sub- 
scriptions, or  an  a\erage  of  two  copies  to  every  man,  w'oman  and  child  in 
the  place.  To  keep  up  that  rate  of  newspaper  circulation  here  in  Bridgeton 
would  require  an  issue  of  thirty  thousand  copies,  allowing  our  population  to 
be  fourteen  thousand,  as  now  claimed.  Such  a  feat  in  journalism  I  belie\-e 
nowhere  equaled  in  the  United  States  outside  of  Elmer, — not  so  far  at  least 
as  I  am  apprised.  Twenty  years  ago  Bridgeton',  with  a  population  of  nearly 
ten  thousand,  had  not  a  single  newspaper  subscription  to  equal  that  of  the 
Elmer  Times  of  to-day,  which  has  been  in  existence  but  about  thirteen  years. 

"Elmer  could  scarce  have  been  an  over  inviting  field  from  a  journalistic 
standpoint,  judging  from  the  description  given  of  it  in  the  following  para- 
graph printed  in  a  neighboring  newspaper  aliout  thirteen  years  ago: 

■'  Tt  is  reported  that  the  Elmer  Gazette,  wdiich  was  started  a  few  months 
ago.  has  'gone  dead.'  This  might  have  been  expected,  for  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  half-dozen  persons  there  is  about  as  little  enterprise  among  the 
so-called  leading  citizens  of  Elmer  as  there  is  in  a  country  graveyard.  It  is 
about  as  difficult  to  publish  a  newspaper  in  such  a  town  as  it  is  to  grow  kan- 
garoos on  strawberry  vines.  It  is  evident  that  Elmer  don't  want  a  paper 
and  don't  deserve  one.' 

'in  1887  Mr.  Foster  took  a  hand  in  the  management, — first  with  a 
couple  of  associates  and  later  in  188S  buying  them  out  and  taking  the 
management  of  the  jilant  entire.     Since  then  everybody  knows  what  they 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJr   JERSEY.  133 

know  that  for  a  dean,  readal)le  and  up-to-date  newspaper  the  Elmer  Times 
has  no  superior  in  all  south  Jersey." 


ISAAC  DERRICKSON. 


Upon  a  farm  in  Eogan  township,  (lloucester  county,  Isaac  Derrickson  is 
successfully  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  born  in  Repaupo, 
August  13,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Louisa  (Mcllvain)  Derrickson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Logan  township,  and  the  latter  of  Harrison  town- 
ship. Gloucester  county.  Isaac  and  Mary  (Holden)  Derrickson,  the  paternal 
grandparents  of  our  subject,  were  both  of  Swedish  lineage,  the  latter  being 
a  daughter  of  a  Swedish  minister.  The  grandparents  had  a  family  of  eight 
children,  namely:  Andrew,  who  went  to  Indiana  when  twenty-four  years 
of  age,  and  had  a  son,  James  M.,  who  is  now  in  Wyoming,  while  his  daughter 
Hannah  is  the  wife  of  James  Fisher  and  liyes  in  Minnesota;  Thomas,  the 
father  of  our  subject:  Ann.  the  wife  of  Job  Key,  of  Logan  township;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  James  Lodge,  of  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey;  Sarah,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Eldridge,  of  Deptford,  New  Jersey;  Samuel,  who  was  a  leading 
citizen  and  public  speaker  of  note,  residing  near  Paulsboro,  New  Tersey, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years,  while  his  wife,  who  was 
formerly  Miss  Miller,  with  their  family  resides  in  Paulsboro;  Martha,  rle- 
ceased;  and  John,  who  was  formerly  a  practicing  physician  of  \\'arren,  Con- 
necticut, but  is  now  decea.sed. 

Thomas  Derrickson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  in  1877.  at  the  age 
of  sixty-eight  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1843,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
years.  Their  children  were  Issac;  Anna,  the  deceased  wife  of  .Alfred  Locke, 
who  is  iiying  at  Port  Richmond,  Staten  Island,  New  York,  and  has  two 
children,  Harry  and  Georgiana;  Parker,  who  died  in  Camden,  New  Jersey; 
Arthur,  who  is  living  with  his  brother  Isaac  and  married  Elizabeth  Locke, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children:  Fanny,  who  died  in  childhood;  Kate,  the 
wife  of  Harry  Locke,  of  Staten  Island;  Thomas,  who  has  charge  of  a  grocery 
store  in  Camden,  New  Jersey;  Ida  May.  living  on  Staten  Island;  Louisa,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Cook,  of  Pennsville,  New  Jersey,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years. 

Isaac  Derrickson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
also  at  a  select  school  in  Swedesboro,  and  at  Pennington  Seminary.  He 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when 
he  began  teaching  school.  He  had  charge  of  the  Repaupo  school  for 
eighteen  years  and  also  taught  in  the  schools  of  Red  Bank,  Center  Square 


134  HIOCKArillCAL    HISTORY    O/-    THli    J-IRST 

and  Lnion.  and  for  one  \ear  in  Plcasantsillc,  C'nnil)ei"land  conntx'.  Alto- 
f^'ctlicr  lie  dcNoted  aliout  Iwentx-fne  years  to  edncational  work,  liis  labors 
in  that  line  endins^-  in  iSScj.  During  that  time  he  also  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  farming,  fishing  and  marketing.  He  purchased  his  present  farm 
in  i8<So  and  has  since  greatly  improved  its  buildings  and  its  general  con- 
dition. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1857,  Mr.  Derrickson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ann  Elizaljeth  Honian,  claugiiter  of  William  Homan.  of  Logan  township, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  four  children:  Ella,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Parker, 
a  blacksmith  of  Pedricktown,  New  Jersey,  by  whom  she  has  four  children: 
Isaac  Herbert:  Ralph;  Verna,  deceased;  and  ()r\ille.  [Nlary  Louisa;  .Vnna 
L..  the  wife  of  Henry  H.  Shoemaker,  an  insurance  agent  of  Philadelphia,  by 
whom  she  has  had  four  children:  Bertha;  Ethel,  deceased,  Laura  and 
Flora,  who  completes  his  family. 

Mr.  Derrickson  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Repaupo,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  since  1848.  He  has 
held  all  the  church  oiifices,  is  now  trustee  and  steward  and  was  also  a  local 
preacher  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  is  a  past  grand  of  Greenwich 
Lodge,  No.  5,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  Paulsboro,  and  a  past  master  of  Swedesboro 
Lodge,  P.  of  H..  of  which  his  family  are  all  members.  Li  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  has  ser\-ed  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Logan  town- 
ship tweiit}-  years,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices.  He  is  now  a  member 
of  the  townshii)  committee  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  the  community,  enjo}'ing  the  warm  regard  of  all  who  know  him, 
for  his  life  has  been  an  honorable  and  tipright  one. 


RICHARD   KELTY. 


Richard  Kelty  was  born  in  Mannington  township,,  Salem  count}-,  Xew 
Jersey,  Se])tember  12,  1841.  to  Jonathan  and  Angeline  (Robinson)  Kelty. 
Jonathan  Kelty  was  a  farmer  of  this  township,  where  he  died.  He  was  a 
Whig  and  a  member  of  the  Hicksite  Society  of  Friends.  \'y  his  first  wife, 
who  in  her  maidenhood  was  Miss  Davenport,  he  had  one  cliilfl,  who  died  in 
infancy.  His  second  wife,  .\ngeline  (Robinson)  Kelty,  bore  him  six  chil- 
dren,— Richard.  Benjamin.  Clement,  William,  .\lbert  and  Jonathan.  The 
father  died  at  the  age  of  sixtv-one  vcars  and  left  a  wide  circle  of  friends  to 
mourn  for  him. 

Richard  Kelty  received  his  education  from  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  township  and  Salem  and  followed  the  pursuits  of  husbandry  until  he 


C0NGRESSI0A\-1L   DISTRICT    OF   NEW  JERSEY.  135 

was  sixteen,  when  he  left  the  farm  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  carriage  painter. 
Being  otifered  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  a  good  salary-,  he  accepted  it 
and  for  several  years  was  thus  engaged  in  various  mercantile  houses  of 
Salem  until  he  received  the  appointment  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  county 
clerk,  in  which  he  has  been  employed  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  a  man  of  good  standing  in  the  community.  He  early  re- 
ceived religious  convictions  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  at 
which  he  is  a  regular  attendant.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Brotherhood  of  Union  and  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

Mr.  Kelty  and  Miss  Louisa  G.  Sharp  were  joined  in  the  holv  bonds  of 
matrimony  and  have  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children,— Clinton  S. 
and  Catherine  Elizabeth,  the  latter  living  at  home. 

Clmton  S.  Kelty  is  a  young  man  of  great  promise  and  now  holds  a  very 
responsible  position  as  foreign  buyer  for  Hood,  Foulkrood  &  Company,  of 
Philadelphia,  one  of  the  largest  importers  of  the  United  States.  He  shows 
a  decided  talent  for  the  work  he  has  chosen  and  bids  fair  to  rise  to  eminence 
in  the  mercantile  field.  He  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Garfield  Club,  giving  his  hearty  support  to  the  Republican 
party. 


JOSEPH   FISLER. 


Joseph  Fisler  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Aura,  in  Elk  township,  Gloucester 
county,  July  15.  1827,  and  there  spent  a  long  and  busy  life,  his  death  taking 
place  December  11,  1893.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Fisler,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Mullica  Hill. 
From  that  place  he  removed  to  Aura,  where  he  purchased  a  large  amount 
of  land  and  became  a  leading  citizen.  He  held  many  local  offices  and  was 
highly  respected.  Benjamin  H.  Fisler,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
near  Aura.  He  was  a  large  land-holder,  very  successful  in  his  business,  and 
held  many  positions  of  trust  and  honor. 

Joseph  Fisler  attended  the  country  schools  until  old  enough  to  assist 
in  the  farm  work.  He  was  active  and  industrious  and  in  the  course  of  his 
life  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune  and  left  a  large  estate.  In  1873  he  as- 
sumed the  management  of  the  home  farm.  He  held  many  of  the  town 
offices  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  mar- 
ried October  27,,  185 1,  to  Henrietta,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Davis,  who  was 
born  near  Hardingville,  New  Jersey,  and  six  children  were  born  to  them, 
five  of  whom  are  living:  Lonzene:  Ada  Rose,  widow  of  Henry  Pudy  Hud- 
son, living  at  the  old  home;  Oramel  \^'.,  who  has  charge  of  the  farm;  Mattie, 


136  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

the  wife  of  W.  F.  Hudson,  of  Philadelphia;  and  ^leda.  living  at  home. 
Charles  Davis  Fisler.  a  brother  of  these,  was  a  promising  young  man  who 
graduated  with  high  honors  at  Jefferson  Medical  College  at  Philadelphia. 
After  practicing  in  Clayton  and  Philadelphia  for  a  time  he  had  permanently 
located  at  Lebanon,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  prospects  in  his  chosen  profession 
were  most  promising.  He  was,  however,  taken  ill  with  a  most  distressing 
malady  and  for  nine  long  years  was  a  sufferer,  until  death  ended  his  earthly 
career,  July  23,  1898.  His  loss  was  a  grievous  one  to  his  family,  whose 
hopes  and  affections  were  centered  in  him  and  who  predicted  for  him  a  bril- 
liant future. 


WILLIAM  H.  ELDRIDGE. 

Mr.  Eldridge,  the  superintendent  of  pulilic  instruction  of  Gloucester 
county.  New  Jersey,  was  born  on  October  28,  1850,  on  the  farm  near 
W'illiamstown,  upon  a  portion  of  which  he  now  resides.  He  is  a  son  of 
Job  and  Elizabeth  (Shone)  Eldridge.  and  a  grandson  of  Joshua  Eldridge, 
who  was  born  in  Burlington  county  and  came  to  this  neighborhood  about 
the  year  1800.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  and  was  a  prosperous 
farmer,  descended  from  one  Jonathan  Eldridge,  who  came  from  England 
in  1678  and  located  in  the  Fenwick  colony  along  the  Delaware.  Job 
Eldridge,  the  father,  was  also  born  in  Williamstown.  where  he  became  a 
leading  agriculturist  and  acquired  a  good  farm.  He  was  an  earnest,  upright 
Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he 
held  many  offices.  He  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  John  Shone  of 
Blackwood,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  were  reared 
to  adult  3'ears  and  six  are  now  living.  They  are  Catherine  (Mrs.  Clayton 
B.  Tice);  Peter  K.,  of  Camden;  Rachel  (Mrs.  Charles  F.  Tice);  J.  J.,  who 
resides  on  a  part  of  the  farm;  William  H.;  and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  William  M. 
Tomlinson).  Mr.  Eldridge  reached  his  seventy-sixth  \'ear  and  died  in  1S88, 
his  wife  dying  in  1885,  in  her  sixty-fifth  year. 

\\'.  H.  Eldridge  attended  public  school,  graduating  at  the  state  normal 
school  in  1877,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  career  as  a  teacher.  For 
eighteen  years  he  taught  at  Swedesboro.  Penn's  Grove,  May's  Landing, 
Williamstown  and  Mantua,  and  in  March,  1892,  received  appointment  as 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  pro  tem.,  of  this  county.  The  follow- 
ing July  he  received  the  appointment  for  the  next  term  and  has  held  the 
office  continuously  since.  The  schools  have  advanced  appreciably  under 
his  super\'ision.  both  in  quality  and  quantity  of  work  accom]jlished.  Mr. 
Eldridge  is  also  an  agriculturist  of  merit  and  keeps  the  small  farm  which 


tt.^.  S/M^d 


*^. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  137 

he  occupies  in  the  l)est  possible  state  of  cuhivation.  He  finds  this  a  pleasant 
means  of  relaxation  from  the  close  confinement  of  official  life  and  at  the 
same  time  a  source  of  profit. 

He  was  married  December  24,  1884,  to  Miss  Mary  T.,  a  daughter  of 
Charles  P.  Shivers,  of  Swedesboro,  and  their  union  has  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  two  children, — Charles  Job  and  \\'illiam  Henry. 


CHARLES   LINDZEY. 


Charles  Lindzey  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Salem.  Salem  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  one  of  the  leading  business  men  in  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Lower 
Penn's  Neck  township,  this  county,  December  31,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Hannah  (Butcher)  Lindzey.  The  family  are  of  English  extrac- 
tion, but  many  generations  of  the  name  have  made  their  homes  in  Salem 
countv  and  become  closely  associated  with  its  growth  and  prosperity. 
Jonathan  Lindzey,  the  grandfather,  was  a  farmer  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek 
township,  residing  near  the  creek  where  he  died.  He  was  married  January 
29,  1803,  to  Miss  Sarah  Johnson,  who  was  born  January  11,  1783,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  James  Johnson.  Their  children  consisted  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters, — John,  James,  and  William.  William  went  west  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.  The  daughters  are 
Mar\',  who  married  Lawrence  Hoover  Boon,  a  resident  of  Salem:  and  Ruth, 
who  married  Isaiah  Wood. 

John  Lindzey  was  born  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township  and  grew  up 
with  a  natural  talent  for  the  arts  of  husbandry.  He  cultivated  land  in  Lower 
Penn's  Neck  township,  but  died  in  the  neighborhood  of  Salem,  February 
27,  1872.  He  owned  two  farms  and  was  a  man  of  considerable  means.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  at  Salem  and  an  honest.  Christian 
man.  He  was  married  April  7,  183 1,  to  Miss  Hannah  Butcher,  who  was 
born  May  27,  1813,  and  bore  him  the  following  children:  Eliza,  born 
January  25,  1832,  died  August  31,  of  that  year:  Sallie,  born  June  28.  1834, 
married  James  Johnson,  a  farmer  of  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  where  he 
died,  leaving  three  children, — J.  Lin.dzey,  William  and  Charles:  James,  who 
was  born  November  10,  1836,  and  is  a,  farmer  and  carries  on  an  imidement 
business  in  Salem,  where  he  li\es,  married  Rebecca  drier,  who  bore  him 
three  children, — Hanna,  Anna  and  Jonathan;  and  his  second  wife  was  Han- 
nah Casper.  Charles,  our  subject,  is  the  next  of  the  family;  and  John,  the 
youngest,  was  born  September  2,  1840,  and  is  unmarried.  The  mother  died 
July  22,  1891. 


138  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Charles  Lindzey  was  educated  in  tlie  jiay  schools  of  Salem,  entered 
Chester  Academy,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  later  took  a  course  in  Crittenden 
Connnercial  College.  He  tiien  returned  home  and  remained  with  his  father 
until  his  death,  when  he  assumed  control  of  the  estate  consisting  of  two 
farms  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  He  subsequently  purchased  the 
homestead  farm,  which  comprised  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
improved  by  a  brick  residence,  in  which  he  made  his  home  until  i8g6.  when 
he  retired  to  Salem. 

Mr.  Lindzey  was  married  March  19,  1864.  to  Miss  .\chsah  Wallace, 
daughter  of  Allen  \\'allace.  a  farmer  of  Piles  Grove  townshi]).  They  ha\'e 
one  child.  Sarah  L..  who  married  Morris  G.  Acton,  a  farmer.  Charles 
Lindzey  is  a  Democrat,  but  quite  liberal  in  his  views,  regarding  the  opinions 
of  others  as  being  as  sacred  to  them  as  his  are  to  him.  He  was  the  township 
committeeman  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  for  seven  years,  is  the  present  treas- 
urer of  the  Salem  county  almshouse  and  makes  an  able  and  efficient  official. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
member  for  upward  of  twenty  years,  has  held  the  office  of  treasurer  for  three 
years  and  is  a  deacon.  He  has  the  good  will  of  the  entire  populace  and  his 
every  day  life  is  above  reproach. 


CHARLES    B.   GUEST. 


Charles  Bilderback  Guest  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  lousiness 
interests  of  Salem  for  several  years  past,  and  is  one  of  her  most  substantial 
and  progressive  citizens.  Born  in  Penn's  Grove.  Salem  county,  January  7, 
1857,  he  is  a  son  of  William  and  Caroline  (Bilderback)  Guest,  and  is  widely 
and  favorablv  known,  as  were  his  parents. 

\VilIiam  Guest  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel  plying  between  Salem  and 
Philadelphia  and  resided  in  the  former  city  at  the  time  of  his  death,  although 
his  home  had  been  formerly  at  Penn's  Grove.  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  took 
little  part  in  political  discussions.  His  marriage  to  Caroline  Bilderback  was 
honored  by  the  birth  of  six  children. — Charles  B..  William.  Robert.  Eliza- 
beth. Frank,  and  Edward, — all  dead  but  our  subject  and  Elizabeth.  The 
latter  married  Joseph  Harris,  a  clerk  in  Philadelphia,  by  whom  she  has  seven 
children.  William  Guest  died  in  1861,  in  his  forty-ninth  year.  His  wife 
reached  her  sixty-sixth  year. 

Charles  B.  Guest  attended  the  ])ublic  schools  of  Salem  until  his  twelfth 
year,  when  he  went  upon  a  farm  and  became  familiar  with  the  work  con- 
nected therewith.     He  remained  thus  engaged  five  years,  initil  he  was  seven- 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEJV  -JERSEY.  139 

teen,  when  he  was  apprenticed  for  a  term  of  four  years  to  learn  tlie  trade  of 
tinsmith.  Then  he  did  journeyman  work  until  1883,  when  he  opened  a  store 
in  the  Ramsey  building-,  where  he  has  since  conducted  his  business.  He 
carries  a  complete  line  of  tinware,  gas  fixtures,  plumbing  fixtures,  etc., 
occupies  a  room  one  hundred  and  forty  by  twenty  feet,  and  does  a  large 
business,  employing  five  men  to  keep  up  the  work.  He  attends  closely  to 
business  and  is  doing  well. 

He  chose  as  his  bride  Miss  Louisa  Brown,  and  the^•  have  seven  inter- 
esting children:  Bertha  Henrietta,  the  wife  of  John  E.  Davis,  a  drug  clerk; 
William,  who  is  in  business  with  his  father:  Charles  Bilderback;  Mary  E., 
Harry  J..  Louisa  and  Roy.  INIr.  Guest  supports  the  Democratic  party  and 
believes  the  best  interests  of  the  people  will  be  secured  tiirough  its  success. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Hepta- 
sophs.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  liberal  views  and  believes  in 
according  to  others  the  same  freedom  of  opinion  that  he  enjoys.  He  is 
upright  and  honorable  in  his  dealings  and  is  popular  to  a  degree. 


F.   A.    STANGER,    D.    D.    S. 

One  of  the  successful  practitioners  in  the  field  of  dentistry  is  Dr.  Stanger, 
of  Glassboro.  He  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  the  citv.  his  birth  having 
occurred  here  on  the  6th  of  April,  1864.  His  father,  Dr.  John  Z.  Stanger, 
was  a  brother  of  Senator  Stanger,  and  for  forty  years  was  a  successful  and 
prominent  dentist  of  Glassboro.  He  enjoyed  a  liberal  and  lucrative  patron- 
age and  was  one  of  the  leading  representatives  of  the  profession  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  He  w  as  prominent  in  public  afifairs,  many  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility  were  given  to  him,  and  his  duties  were  ever  dis- 
charged with  marked  fidelity  and  ability.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education  and  did  much  effective  service  in  the 
interest  of  schools.  He  was  also  a  township  assessor  for  a  number  of  years. 
A  leading  member  of  tlie  Methodist  Protestant  church,  he  acted  as  a  class- 
leader,  as  a  trustee  and  a  steward,  and  in  all  possible  ways  promoted  the 
upbuilding  of  his  church  and  its  cause.  Socially  he  was  connected  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Senior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  the  Junior 
Order  of  American  Mechanics  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  In  all 
life's  relations  he  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  and  at  his  death,  which  occurred  February  11,  1895. 
the  community  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens. 

His  wife  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Louisa  D.  Campbell,  a  daughter 


I40  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

of  Francis  A.  Caniplicll,  of  Richwoocl.  Xew  Jersey.  He  was  one  of  tlie  first 
settlers  there  and  owned  extensive  tracts  of  land  in  that  locality.  Mrs. 
Stanger  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  and  of  her  five  children 
four  yet  survive:  Julia,  wife  of  James  McFadden,  of  Glasshoro:  F.  A.: 
Hannie,  wife  of  Harry  B.  Wright,  of  Glasshoro;  and  Lelia  A. 

Dr.  F.  A.  Stanger  attended  the  common  schools  of  Glasshoro  and  for 
three  \ears  occupied  a  clerical  position  in  the  ofiice  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Company  at  Philadelphia.  He  was  afterward  a  bookkeeper  for 
the  Whitney  Glass  Company  for  three  years,  when,  resolving  to  devote  his 
energies  to  the  dental  profession,  he  pursued  a  two-years  course  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania College  of  Dental  Surgery,  and  subseciuently  spent  one  year  in  the 
Jefiferson  Medical  College.  He  then  joined  his  father  in  business,  a  relation- 
ship that  was  maintained  for  eight  years  and  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
the  senior  partner.  Dr.  Stanger  has  since  been  alone  in  business.  He  has 
a  well  appointed  ofiice,  equipped  with  the  best  appliances  for  conducting 
his  work,  and  from  the  public  he  receives  a  liberal  patronge,  which  is  an  in- 
dication of  his  skill  and  ability. 

The  Doctor  married  Miss  Josephine  Ellis,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  H. 
Ellis,  antl  they  have  two  sons, — Joseph  E.  and  Francis  A.  Of  several  civic 
societies  Dr.  Stanger  is  a  representati\e.  He  belongs  to  Glasshoro  Lodge, 
No.  85,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a  past  master,  holds  membership  with  the 
Junior  Order  of  American  ^Mechanics,  and  was  made  state  councilor,  but 
on  account  of  illness  was  forcefl  to  resign:  is  a  past  patriarch  of  the  (Jdd 
Fellows  society,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church.  Dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  has  residerl  in  Glasshoro,  where  he  is  both 
widely  and  favorably  known.  His  professional  success  is  the  result  of  merit 
and  has  gained  him  a  position  of  distinction  in  the  ranks  of  the  dental  fra- 
ternity. 


CHARLES  S.   HERITAGE.   M.   D. 

Gloucester  county  numl)ers  among  its  inhabitants  many  physicians  of 
high  standing,  and  among  the  younger  members  of  the  profession  none  rank 
better  than  Dr.  Charles  S.  Heritage,  who  is  engaged  in  practice  at  Glass- 
horo. He  is  a  native  of  this  place,  his  birth  having  occurred  here  August 
9.  1871.  and  from  his  early  years  he  has  enjoyed  the  instruction  and  training 
of  his  father.  Dr.  J.  D.  Heritage,  whose  history  ajjpears  upon  another  page 
of  this  work. 

In  his  youth  Dr.  C.  S.  Heritage  jiursued  his  elementar}-  studies  in 
the  common  schools  of  this  ])lace  and  in  Pennington  Seminarv.     Then  he 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  141 

devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  a  mastery  of  the  sulijects  which  were  to 
engross  his  mind  in  later  years,  and  after  due  preparation  he  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  Uni\ersity  of  Pennsylvania.  After  a  thorough 
course,  comprising  four  years  of  work,  he  was  graduated,  in  1893,  with  the 
degree  of  doctor  of  medicine,  and  at  once  returned  to  Glassboro,  where  he 
established  himself  in  practice.  \\  ithin  the  few  years  which  have  elapsed 
since  that  time  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice, numbering  among  his  patients  man\-  of  the  leading  people  of  the  town 
and  vicinity. 

The  ability  of  Dr.  Heritage  is  recognized  far  beyond  his  home  place,  and 
an  unusual  honor  for  a  young  physician  was  bestowed  upon  him  recently 
when  he  was  chosen  to  be  the  president  of  the  Gloucester  County  Medical 
Society.  He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Associated  Health  Authorities  of  this 
county,  belongs  to  the  local  town  board  of  health,  and  is  the  chairman  of 
township  committee,  in  all  of  which  organizations  he  has  gi\'en  abundant 
evidence  of  his  zeal  and  efificiency. 

No  less  in  society  than  in  professional  circles  does  the  Doctor  fill  a  place 
of  honor  and  esteem.  He  is  a  vestryman  in  St.  Thomas'  Protestant  Epis- 
copal church,  of  which  the  Rev.  C.  W.  Boyd  is  the  present  rector.  Frater- 
nally he  is  the  present  worshipful  master  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  belongs  to  the 
Odd  Fellows  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics. 


RICHARD    O'BRIEN. 


Richard  O'Brien,  the  proprietor  of  the  beer  and  bottling  works  of  Salem, 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  popular  citizens  of  this  thri\-ing  little  city.  He 
is  a  son  of  Walter  and  Catherine  (Fitzgerald)  O'Brien,  and  was  born  in  Man- 
nington  township,  on  July  21,  1859.  His  ancestors  were  natives  of  the 
beautiful  Emerald  isle,  the  grandfather,  Patrick  O'Brien,  having  been  born 
in  the  county  of  Wexford,  Ireland,  whence  he  came  to  America  and  located 
in  Salem,  where  he  died.  He  was  the  father  of  four  children, — Patrick, 
Michael,  Ella  and  Walter.  He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  }'ears,  and  his 
wife  at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  Walter  O'Brien  also  was  born  in  the  old  country 
and  grew  up  in  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  He  was  a  husbandman  and  held 
many  local  offices.  His  union  with  Miss  Catherine  Fitzgerald  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  two  children, — Michael  and  Richard. 

Richard  O'Brien  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Salem  and 
engaged  on  a  farm  as  a  laborer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  came  to  Man- 
nington  township  and  began  farming  for  himself,  later  pursuing  the  same 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

occupation  in  Cumherland  county  at  Bacon's  Xeck.  Tliis  line  of  work. 
however,  was  not  congenial  to  his  tastes  and  he  emharked  in  the  bottling 
business  and  manufacture  of  root  beer  as  more  likely  to  suit  him  and  at  the 
same  time  atYord  a  handsome  remuneration.  He  puts  up  a  good  article, 
which  is  in  great  demand  and  undoubtedly  does  much  the  largest  business 
in  this  line  in  Salem. 

He  was  married  in  April.  1883,  to  Miss  ]\lary  Elk.  b}-  whom  he  has  had 
three  children, — Catherine,  Walter,  deceased,  and  Winchall.  His  family 
have  been  reared  in  the  tenets  of  the  Catholic  church,  of  which  he  is  a  devout 
member.  In  political  views  he  is  in  accord  with  the  great  Democratic  prin- 
ciples promulgated  by  Thomas  JefYerson  and  gives  his  support  to  that  party. 


CHARLES  H.  RICHMAN. 

This  gentleman,  the  jiresent  postmaster  of  Woodstown,  Salem  county. 
is  one  of  her  best  and  most  influential  citizens,  for  years  having  been  con- 
nected with  public  affairs  here.  He  has  discharged  the  duties  of  his  several 
positions  with  fidelity  and  in  a  manner  which  redounds  greatly  to  his  credit, 
so  that  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he  has  made  friends  and  no  enemies  during 
his  career  as  a  servant  of  the  people. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  were  early  settlers  in  Xew  Jersey.  He 
is  a  son  of  Ewalt  and  grandson  of  Moses  Richman,  l)oth  natives  of  Piles- 
grove  township,  this  state.  Ewalt  was  born  in  1813.  and  lived  to  attain  a 
ripe  age,  his  death  occurring  in  August.  1898.  During  the  half  century 
of  his  active  business  life  he  was  noted  for  his  enterprise  and  progressive 
spirit  no  less  than  for  his  uprightness  and  integrity  in  all  transactions.  In 
early  manhood  he  gave  his  attention  to  agriculture,  and  followed  that 
occupation  until  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  when  he  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Woodstown.  The  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he  was  closely 
identified,  lost  one  of  its  most  liberal,  conscientious  members  when  he 
was  called  to  liis  reward,  and  the  entire  communit}-  share  the  sorrow  and 
sense  of  deprivation  which  his  family  feel  so  keenly.  His  widow,  whose 
name  was  Emma  A.  Johnson  in  her  girlhood,  was  born  in  Pittsgrove  town- 
ship, Salem  county,  a  daup-hter  of  Isaac  and  ]\lary  Johnson,  prominent 
citizens,  of  this  locality.  The  father,  who  at  one  time  was  the  sheriff  and 
was  in  high  standing  in  Masonic  circles,  was  the  owner  of  one  thousand 
acres  of  valuable  land,  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  Daretown,  Salem  county, 
besides  property  in  other  sections,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the 
proprietor  of  two  flour-mills. 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  143 

Tlie  name  of  Johnson  has  been  celebrated  in  the  annals  of  the  state 
since  its  early  settlement  by  Europeans.  A  Swedish  family  called  Johanson 
located  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Delaware,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Penn's  Xeck,  in  1640,  and  their  name  was  soon  changed  to  the  present 
form.  Jolmson.  The  first  English  emigrants  bearing  the  name  who  came 
to  this  state  were  Richard  and  Thomas  Johnson,  cousins,  w  ho  took  up  their 
abode  in  Fenwick  a  few  months  before  the  arrival  of  the  proprietor.  John 
Johnson,  who  was  not  in  any  way  connected  by  ties  of  relationship,  as  far 
as  can  be  ascertained,  with  the  Johnsons  before  mentioned.  This  John 
Johnson,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Jane  Snayberry  Johnson,  came  to  this 
state  from  their  old  home  in  Ireland,  about  1756.  Having  considerable 
wealth,  they  became  the  owners  of  a  large  tract  of  land  situated  in  Piles 
Grove,  now  Pittsgrove  township,  and  there  they  reared  their  eight  children. 
From  this  branch  of  the  family  Mrs.  Richman  is  descended. 

Charles  H.  Richman  was  born  in  1838,  in  Piles  Grove  township,  and 
quietly  passed  his  boyhood  on  the  family  homestead,  which  was  not  far 
from  the  town  of  Richmanville.  He  was  educated  in  a  private  school  at 
Chester,  in  Casville  Seminary  and  at  Pennington,  Xew  Jersey.  He  then 
commenced  teaching  in  the  district  schools  of  his  home  neighborhood,  but 
at  the  end  of  two  years  he  resumed  agricultural  pursuits,  for  the  sake  of  his 
health.  He  continued  on  the  farm,  of  which  he  became  the  purchaser,  and 
it  was  not  until  1886  that  he  gave  up  his  country  life,  in  order  to  become 
a  resident  of  Woodstown.  Here  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
and  insurance  business  ever  since,  for  six  years  being  associated  with  E.  S. 
Fogg,  but  for  the  most  part  being  alone.  Since  1892  he  has  been  the 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Woodstown  branch  of  the  State  Mutual 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  and  since  1895  he  has  also  been  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Woodstown  branch  of  the  New  Jersey  Building,  Loan 
&  Investment  Company.  In  1895  he  was  made  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
has  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the  present  time,  and  from  1893  to  the 
present  time  he  has  held  the  ofifice  of  commissioner  of  deeds.  Politically 
he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  taking  an  active  part  in  campaigns,  local  and 
general,  and  in  March,  1897,  he  became  a  member  of  the  county  board  of, 
elections,  holding  that  office  until  his  appointment  as  postmaster,  March 
16,  1898.  He  was  elected  the  mayor  of  Woodstown  in  1887,  and  every 
other  year,  for  a  two  years"  term,  until  1898,  when  he  was  appointed  post- 
master by  President  McKinley.  From  1878  until  1897  '""s  served  as  the 
assessor  of  his  township,  and  continued  to  fill  the  duties  of  the  office  in  this 
borough  until  1898.  Since  1878  he  has  l^een  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  being  connected  with  Woodstown   Lodge,   No.    138,   F.   &  A.    M., 


144 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


from  its  inception.  In  the  Metliorlist  Episcopal  clnircii  he  is  an  acti\e  and 
valued  member,  at  jiresent  ser\inja:  as  a  trustee  and  steward.  His  kindly, 
courteous  manner,  liis  generous,  frank  disposition,  and  his  power  of  looking 
upon  the  bright  side  of  things,  render  him  a  general  favorite  with  all  classes. 
He  was  married  in  1867  to  Caroline  R.,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Lvdia  (Butcher)  Lippincott.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Gloucester  county. 
New  Jersey,  but  for  two-score  years  was  numbered  among  the  progressive, 
well-to-do  farmers  of  this  county.  The  eldest  child  of  our  subject  and  wife. 
Walter  J.,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years,  leaving  a  widow,  formerly 
Bertha  Garrison.  He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  a  valued  employe 
of  the  firm  of  John  H.  Long  &  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  Jennie  L..  the 
elder  daughter  of  our  subject,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  George  W.  Horton  Fitch, 
of  Washington,  D.  C;  and  Nellie  H.,  the  younger  daughter,  is  an  assistant 
in  the  Woodstown  postofifice.  Henry  C.  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Rich- 
man  &  Foley,  manufacturers  at  No.  235  Front  street.   Philadelphia. 


ALBERT  STEINER. 


Within  the  past  tifteen  years  Albert  Steiner.  of  Salem,  has  advanced  to 
the  extremely  influential  position  which  he  now  occupies  among  the  mer- 
chants and  citizens  of  this  flourishing  town,  that  period  being  the  length 
of  time  that  he  has  been  engaged  in  independent  business.  He  possesses 
the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  the  public,  whose  interests  he  always  con- 
sults, even  though  it  be  to  the  detriment  of  his  own,  and  thus  he  is  in  the 
best  sense  a  true  patriot. 

He  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  his  birth  having  taken  place  in  the  town 
of  Underenfeldt.  canton  Argau,  April  11,  1846.  His  parents  were  Jacob 
and  Elizaljeth  (Zimmerley)  Steiner,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  1810 
and  departed  this  life  in  1857,  and  the  latter  is  still  living,  now  in  her  eighty- 
fifth  year.  Jacob  Steiner,  the  grandfather  of  Alljert.  was  born  at  Underen- 
feldt and  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  His  wife  was  named  Catherine.  He 
'died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  a  member  of  the  Reformed  church. 
The  father  followed  his  trade  of  blacksmithing  in  the  town  where  our  subject 
was  born,  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States  to  found  a  new 
home,  and  here  he  worked  at  the  same  calling  for  a  year  or  more  in  New- 
York  city.  He  then  met  with  an  accident  which  prevented  his  continuing 
at  his  trade,  and  he  came  to  Salem  and  found  employment  upon  the  con- 
struction of  Fort  Delaware.  In  1855  he  sent  for  his  wife  and  five  children, 
and  during  the  rest  of  his  life  he  made  his  home  in  Salem.     His  wife  was  a 


COiXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  145 

member  of  the  German  Baptist  church,  and  he  was  honored  h_\-  ever\-  one 
with  whom  he  liad  dealings.  His  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  horn  in  1838, 
became  the  wife  of  Paul  Erhardt,  a  Salem  gun  and  lock  smith:  Samuel, 
born  in  1840,  is  a  farmer  of  Montgomery  county.  Iowa:  Jacob,  born  in  1844, 
is  a  blacksmitli  of  Greenwood,  Nebraska:  Albert.  l)orn  in  1846,  is  the  next 
in  order  of  birth;  and  Lizzie,  born  in  1851,  is  the  wife  of  C.  Miller  Clark,  a 
printer,  who  is  now  foreman  in  the  composing  department  of  the  New 
York  Sun. 

After  his  arrival  in  America.  Albert  Steiner  attended  the  Salem  school 
for  about  a  year,  and  was  but  twelve  when  he  became  an  errand  boy  for 
Brown  &  Taylor,  of  this  place.  Later  he  clerked  for  Samuel  Dilmore, 
Andrew  Thompson  and  Andrew  Taylor,  continuing  with  the  last  named 
merchant  until  March  i.  1884,  when  he  emliarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  chose  as  his  partner  William  Breece.  the  firm  name  being 
Steiner  &  Breece,  and  together  they  conducted  a  general  grocery,  crockery 
and  glassware  business,  at  154  West  Broadway  street.  On  the  29th  of  May, 
1889,  Mr.  Breece  died  and  our  subject  then  purchased  his  interest,  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  at  the  same  place.  At  the  end  of  five  years  he  bought 
his  fine  property,  142  and  144  Broadway,  where  the  various  departments  of 
his  store  occupy  three  floors,  thirty-five  by  ninety  feet,  of  the  brick  structure. 
He  gives  employment  to  six  clerks,  and,  besides,  runs  delivery  wagons, 
transacting  by  far  the  largest  business  in  his  line  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Steiner  has  always  taken  a  loyal  interest  in  the  welfare  of  this  place, 
is  a  memljer  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  is  the  present  elificient  and  popular 
city  treasurer,  having  been  elected  to  this  responsilile  office  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket.  He  has  also  been  for  four  years  the  treasurer  of  the  Franklin 
Building  &  Loan  Association,  which  was  organizd  prior  to  the  opening  of 
the  ci\'il  war,  and  thus  is  the  oldest  company  of  the  kind  in  the  county,  and 
one  of  the  oldest  in  the  state.  Ever  since  the  Liberty  Hook  &  Ladder  Com- 
pany was  organized,  in  1866,  he  has  been  identified  with  it,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  treasurer  during  this  long  period.  He  served  as  assessor  of  the 
East  ward  of  Salem  in  1883  and  1884,  then  declining  re-election;  has  been 
the  treasurer  of  the  Firemen's  Relief  Fund,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Salem  Relief  Association  and  its  treasurer  for  twenty-six  years.  Fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  Excelsior  Loflge.  No.  54,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Washington  Lodge. 
No.  21,  I.  O.  C).  F.,  and  Forest  Lodge,  No.  7.  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  the 
last  named  he  has  been  the  master  of  finance  for  twent}--nine  years.  Surely 
few  men  ha\e  been  called  upon  to  occujjy  so  many  and  \aried  positions, 
where  the  matters  of  finance  are  concerned,  and  it  speaks  well  not  only  for 
his  recognized  ability  but  also  for  the  confidence  which  his  fellows  place  in 
n— J 


146  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

him.  Lastl}'  it  may  be  mentioned  that  he  is  the  treasurer  and  a  trustee  of 
tlie  Memorial  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  is  an  active  and  \alued  meml)er. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Steiner  and  Mary  F.  Counsellor,  a  daughter  of 
Stephen  Counsellor,  was  celebrated  September  14,  1870.  They  have  a 
pleasant  home  at  No.  79  West  Broadway,  Mr.  Steiner  having  purchased  a 
lot  there  and  built  thereon  an  attractive  brick  residence.  They  have  three 
children,  namely:  Nellie  C,  Kate  B.  and  Edna  A.  Nellie  C.  is  the  wife  of 
William  R.  Franklin,  a  bookkeeper  and  clerk  in  our  subject's  store.  He 
is  very  proficient  in  music  and  has  a  number  of  pupils  in  the  study  of  that 
fine  art.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  have  one  child,  a  little  daughter,  to  whom 
the  name  of  Vera  has  been  given. 


THOMAS    ELWOOD    PARKER,    M.    D. 

In  professional,  public  and  private  life,  Thomas  Elwood  Parker,  ]\I.  D., 
of  Woodbur}-.  Xew  Jersey,  commands  the  fullest  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  who  know  him.  He  possesses  in  vmstinted  measure  the  qualities  which 
mark  the  successful  physician  and  make  him  a  power  for  good  in  a  com- 
munity, and  few,  if  any,  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  section  of  the  state  are  more 
actively  interested  in  the  promotion  of  the  public  welfare. 

The  Doctor  is  a  descendant  of  an  honored  English  family,  his  great- 
great-great-grandfather,  John  Parker,  having  been  born  in  Bingley.  York- 
shire. He  came  to  America  about  1686,  settling  first  at  Philadelphia  and 
later  removing  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  where  it  is  believed  that  his  death 
occurred.  Of  his  children,  it  is  known  that  there  was  a  son,  Abraham,  and 
two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  The  son  was  born  October  9,  1705, 
married  Eleanor  Richardson,  and  became  the  father  of  the  following  named 
children:  Man,',  born  September  23,  1736;  Elizabeth,  April  13.  1738:  I.ydia. 
January  22,  1740;  Hannah,  August  7,  1742 1  Ruth.  November  19,  1744: 
Sarah,  September  4,  1746;  John,  .August  22.  1748:  and  Keziah,  August  5. 
1750.  Eleanor,  his  widow,  married  Peter  \\'ickersham  for  her  second  hus- 
band and  dwelt  at  the  Parker  homestead  in  Parkersville,  Pennsylvania. 

John  Parker,  who  was  born  in  1748,  married  Hannah  Millhouse.  May 
17,  1774,  and  thirteen  children  blessed  their  union,  namely:  Abraham,  born 
March  12,  1775;  Isaac,  July  11,  1776:  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Jacob  Bailey),  March 
13.  1778;  Thomas.  Decenil)cr  11,  1779:  Joseph.  April  8,  1781;  Benjamin. 
Julv  21,  1783;  Richard.son,  February  22,  1785:  John,  September  20,  1786: 
Hannah,  March  30,  1788:  Susan.  August  2.  1790;  Wister.  July  28,  1792: 
Caleb,  September  22,  1795;  ^n'tl  Mary,  September  8,  I79<'>.    The  father,  who 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   XHJV   JERSEY.  147 

was  a  prominent  minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  died  at  tlie  old  Parker 
homestead  above  mentionefl.  on  the  12th  of  July,  1829,  and  was  liuried  at 
Old  Kennett.  Pennsylvania.  His  devoted  wife,  who  was  born  February  ig, 
1754,  departed  this  life  October  17.  1823. 

The  eighth  child  of  this  worthy  couple,  John.  Jr.,  was  born  in  the  autumn 
of  1786,  and  on  the  20th  of  March.  1828.  married  Rebecca,  the  daughter  of 
\\'illiam  and  Jane  \^'^e15b.  Their  eldest  child.  William  W'..  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  May  22.  1830.  and  tlieir  \ounger  cliildren 
were:  Hannah  Jane,  who  was  born  October  4,  1832,  married  John  G. 
Taylor,  and  died  in  1866:  Rebecca,  born  November  22.  1835,  and  died  in  the 
following  year;  Edward  S..  born  April  12.  1840.  died  on  the  17th  of  the 
ensuing  July.  The  father  of  these  children  was  called  to  the  home  beyond 
April  12.  1857,  having  survived  the  wife  and  mother  sixteen  years. 

William  W.  Parker  was  the  owner  of  large  and  valuable  tracts  of  farm 
land,  and  was  engaged  in  agriculture  during  his  acti\e  life.  For  a  number 
of  }'ears  he  held  the  office  of  school  director  and  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  event  occurred  October  17.  1890.  he  was  serving  in  the  responsible 
position  of  president  of  the  County  Directors'  Association.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  stanch  Republican.  acti\'e  in  tlie  interests  of  his  ])arty.  For 
a  wife  he  chose  Anna  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Edith  Darlington, 
tlieir  marriage  being  celebrated  March  16.  1854.  Joseph  Walter,  the  second 
son  of  W.  W.  and  Anna  Parker,  was  born  October  26,  1836.  and  is  residing 
on  the  old  Parkersville  (Pennsylvania)  homestead.  Rebecca,  the  eldest 
daughter,  is  managing  the  Ravenroyd  Hotel  at  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey; 
Edith,  born  February  15.  1861,  died  in  1864;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Emlen 
Darlington,  was  born  November  27,  18C15.  John,  born  January  16.  1868, 
married  Hattie,  a  daughter  of  Caleb  Brinton.  and  lias  orie  son.  William  B., 
born  April  1 1,  1898.    William  D..  born  October  2.  1872.  died  April  26.1895. 

Dr.  Thomas  E.  Parker  was  born  at  Ravenroyd.  Parkersville.  Pennsyl- 
vania. December  16,  1854.  and  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place  he  acquired 
his  primary  education.  Later  he  was  a  student  at  Westtown  boarding 
school  and  West  Chester  Normal,  at  West  Chester,  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
last  named  town  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  guidance 
of  Dr.  J.  B.  Wood,  and  in  1880  he  was  graduated  in  Hahnemann  ^Medical 
College.  Philadelphia.  Going  to  Claremont.  New  Hampshire,  he  opened 
an  office  and  for  six  years  devoted  himself  to  practice  in  that  vicinity,  meet- 
ing with  gratifying  success.  In  1889  he  came  to  Woodbury,  where  for  a 
decade  he  has  commanded  a  remunerati\e  and  constantly  growing  practice. 
He  ranks  high  among  his  professional  brethren  and  is  an  honored  member 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Homeo]iath\'.  the  New  Jersey  Hoiueopathic 


148  BlOGRAPHlC/lL   HISTORY   01-    THE   FIRST 

Society  and  the  \\  est  Jersey  Homeopathic  Society.  Moreover,  lie  is  now 
serving  efficiently  as  a  nieniber  of  the  local  board  of  health,  is  the  secretary 
of  the  Associated  Health  Society  of  Gloucester  County  and  has  acted  in  the 
capacit}-  of  coroner  for  one  term. 

The  marriage  of  the  Doctor  and  Aliss  Edith  M.  Hawes.  a  daughter  of 
Georg-e  F.  and  Emma  (Lyford)  Hawes,  was  solemnized  in  Augusta,  Maine, 
December  2.  1885.  Tlie)-  ha\e  a  charming  home  and  delight  in  extending 
its  hospitality  to  their  numerous  friends  and  accjuaintances.  In  social  cir- 
cles they  are  both  very  popular,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  leading  tnember  of 
Mariola  Lodge,  No.  9,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  is  a  past  chancellor. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  Religiously  he  is  a  Pres- 
byterian, his  membership  being  with  the  local  church,  of  which  he  is  one  of 
the  trustees. 


S.  LUTHER  RICHMOND. 

S.  Luther  Richmontl  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  Salem,  where  he  has  grown  up  from  infancy  into  a  noble  manhood, 
his  development  and  progress  being  watched  by  numberless  friends  who 
are  not  disappointed  by  seeing  him  become  one  of  the  most  successful 
and  popular  men  of  the  county.  He  was  born  July  7,  1858,  in  this  city. 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Graham)  Richmond.  The  family 
originated  in  England,  but  the  grandfather,  Isaac  Richmond,  was  a  farmer 
in  Piles  Grove  township,  where  he  li\ed  all  his  life.  His  wife  was  Miss 
S_\'billa  Cheesman,  who  lived  to  celelirate  her  eighty-sixth  year.  They  had 
five  children:  Harriet,  who  married  Enoch  Boone,  of  this  county;  William, 
John,  Jonathan  and  Samuel. 

Samuel  Richmond  first  saw  the  light  of  day  at  Woodstown,  this  county, 
November  16,  1816.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  for  many  years 
kept  a  shoe  store  in  Salem,  doing  a  profitable  business.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican, but  took  little  part  in  politics.  He  was  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  having  been  a  member  of  that  organization 
for  a  period  extending  upward  of  sixty-three  years,  in  which  time  he  was 
an  active  worker  for  the  cause  of  religion.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  church, 
a  well  known  class-leader  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  He 
was  most  consistent  in  his  religion,  taking  it  into  his  every-day  life  and 
being  known  as  a  conscientious,  God-fearing  man.  His  union  with  Rachel 
Graham  was  honored  in  the  birth  of  se\en  children,  namely:  Elizabeth, 
the  widow  of  Morris  J.  Robinson,  of  Salem:  Lucia  Rowe,  wife  of  Newton 
Elmer,  of  Bridgeton:  Emily,  who  died  in  childhood;  Isaac,  who  is  sleejiing 


vjy      '=^^^'2^x_'/c:i^;!x-y^  ^^-'^T<lx:=>Kl'7-^i-<_-cr2-'<J^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  149 

in  the  Salem  churcli-yard;  Kli  W..  a  Iiarness-niaker;  S.  Luther,  our  subject; 
and  John  G..  a  printer  l)y  trade  and  now  deputy  county  clerk.  He  is  also 
a  notary  public.  The  father  of  the  familv  was  spared  until  January  13, 
1899,  having  passed  his  eighty-second  year.  The  mother  died  January  14, 
1872,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years. 

S.  Luther  Richmond  graduated  at  the  public  schools  of  Salem  in  1877 
and  spent  the  following  three  \-ears  as  an  instructor  in  the  schools  of  this 
county,  teaching  at  Penn's  Groye  and  Salem.  He  then  accepted  a  position 
as  a  bookkeeper  in  the  eniploy  of  John  P.  Bruna,  the  veteran  ice-cream 
man,  remaining  with  him  in  that  capacity  for  twelve  years.  He  afterward 
went  to  the  Avers  Machine  Works  as  a  bookkeeper  for  a  year,  when  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  resigning  to  take  up  the  duties  of 
that  ofifice,  which  he  has  since  filled.  He  has  been  prominent  in  local 
politics  since  early  manhood,  having  been  city  recorder  for  a  period  of 
seven  years,  extending  from  1882  to  1889,  and  the  following  six  \ears  was 
the  treasurer  of  the  city.  Ide  is  a  Republican  and  has  served  as  a  delegate 
to  various  conventions,  but  his  friends  are  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
ranks  of  that  party,  as  some  of  his  strongest  supporters  are  from  the  oppos- 
ing party.  He  is  equally  a  favorite  in  the  social  organizations  of  the  city 
and  is  a  member  of  Forrest  Lodge,  No.  7,  Knights  of  Pythias;  Ivanhoe 
Castle,  No.  5,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle;  Salem  Council,  No.  203, 
Junior  Order  of  .\merican  Mechanics;  and  Richmond  Lodge,  Independent 
Order  of  Mechanics,  which  was  organized  in  1896  and  named  in  com- 
pliment to  Mr.  Richmond.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Garfield  Reiniblican 
Club  and  has  a  membership  in  the  Broadway  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
where  he  is  a  steward.  He  takes  a  great  interest  in  the  Bethany  Sunday- 
school,  of  which  he  is  the  assistant  superintendent,  and  is  the  recording 
secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  .\ssociation.  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers  in   1888. 


C.    FLEMING   STANGER. 

C.  Fleming  Stanger,  an  enterprising  and  energetic  business  man  of  ( tlass- 
boro.  New  Jersey,  is  a  son  of  Senator  S.  H.  Stanger  and  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  near  this  village  on  February  15.  1861.  The  first  of  the 
name  to  locate  in  America  were  a  family  of  se\en  Ijrothers  and  one  sister, 
who  came  from  Holland  and  made  their  home  in  Alloway  Creek  township, 
Salem  county.  They  were  Jacob,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject; 
Christian,  Adam,  Francis,  Solomon,  John  and  Philip.  The  sister  was  Sophia 
Stanger.     Thev  were  a  familv  of  glass-workers  and  followed  that  business 


I50  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP   THE   FIRST 

in  this  country,  establishinii-  extensive  glass-works  in  this  village  in  1775. 
One  of  the  children  of  Jacob  Stanger  was  Solomon  H.,  the  grandfather  of 
the  gentleman  whose  sketch  is  here  given,  lie  learned  the  trade  of  glass- 
making,  but  afterward  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  substantial  farmers  of  this  count)-,  noted  for  the  great 
interest  he  took  in  all  atYairs  of  imjiort  to  the  conmuuiity  and  his  zeal  in 
religion.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church  and  held 
all  the  different  offices  of  that  organization.  He  was  also  a  prominent  Odrl 
Fellow  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  meetings  of  that  order.  His  wife 
was  Hannah,  a  daughter  of  John  Simmerman.  who  died  in  1883,  leaving 
him  with  a  family  of  four  children:  Emma,  the  wife  of  Rev.  C.  K.  Fleming; 
John  Z.;  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Jacob  Iszard:  and  Solomon  H.  His  death 
occurred  on  April  6.  1887. 

Hon.  Solomon  H.  Stanger  is  too  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  this 
part  of  New  Jerse}-  to  need  an  introduction  to  them,  yet  a  brief  glance  must 
be  taken  of  his  life,  which  is  more  fully  |)ortra_\-ed  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  His  earlier  years  were  passed  in  the  school-room,  and  he  then  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Later  he  became  associated  with  his  sons  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  in  which  he  is  still  interested.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  all  agricultural  affairs  and  misses  no  opportunity  of  advocating 
their  interests.  He  is  a  man  who  exercises  sound,  common  sense  in  all  the 
affairs  of  life  and  has  won  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  the  public  in  a 
remarkable  degree,  which  has  caused  him  to  be  chosen  to  various  posts  of 
trust  and  honor  in  the  gift  of  the  people:  he  was  a  freeholder  for  ten  years, 
an  assembl\man  four  years  and  was  then  complimented  by  a  seat  in  the  state 
senate,  where  his  earnest  eft'orts  have  lieen  for  the  bettering  of  the  laws 
governing  the  laboring  man.  His  record  both  ]niblic  and  pri\ate  has  been 
singularly  pure  and  above  reproach  and  will  bear  the  closest  inspection.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  also  of  the  several  orders 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Masons,  belonging  to  the  encampment  in  the  former 
and  commandery  and  consistory  in  the  latter.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  affiliated  with 
Lulu  Temple,  and  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics  claims  him  as 
one  of  themselves.  In  i860  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  B., 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Locke)  Shute.  and  two  children  were  born 
to  them,  C.  Fleming,  our  suljject,  and  Frank  R.,  who  is  associated  with  him 
in  the  store. 

C.  Fleming  Stanger  attended  the  Glassboro  public  schools  and  was 
trained  to  industrious  habits  on  his  father's  farm.  Not  caring  to  follow 
agricultural  life,  in  March,  1880,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  at 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  151 

the  age  of  nineteen,  with  his  cousin,  Howard  Iszard,  as  Stanger  &  Iszard, 
and  opened  a  general  store,  he  representing  his  father's  capital.  They  dis- 
played shrew'dness  and  ability  in  their  transactions,  which  was  most  unex- 
pected in  boys  of  their  age.  and  elicited  much  favorable  comment  from  older 
business  men.  In  1881  Howard  Iszard  became  the  sole  proprietor  of 
this  business.  S.  H.  Stanger  then  closed  out  his  agricultural  interests  and 
removed  to  the  old  "Temperance  House,"  opposite  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  Glassboro  village,  and,  with  his  two  sons,  C.  Fleming  Stanger  and 
Frank  R.  Stanger.  there  opened  a  general  mercantile  establishment.  They 
have  increased  the  stock  until  they  now  have  one  of  the  most  complete 
lines  to  be  found  in  Southern  Jersey.  \Aith  a  correspondingly  large  patronage. 
The  business  has  thrived  under  the  judicious  management  of  the  brothers 
to  such  a  degree  that  they  are  numbered  among  the  leading  business  men  in 
this  part  of  the  state. 

On  May  9.  1883.  C.  Fleming  Stanger  was  made  an  Odd  Fellow  in  Glass- 
l)oro  Lodge.  No.  58.  He  was  then  but  twenty-two  years  of  age.  and  he  has 
been  an  active  member  of  that  order  ever  since.  In  1890  his  first  visit  was 
paid  to  the  grand  lodge  and  it  then  became  his  ambition  to  rise  to  the  chair 
of  grand  master.  In  1893  he  was  appointed  grand  marshal,  and  the  next 
year  served  as  the  chairman  of  the  committee  on  credentials  in  the  grand 
lodge  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  deliberations  of  that  body.  In  1895 
a  spirited  contest  took  place  for  the  position  of  grand  warden,  several  can- 
didates appearing  for  the  ofifice.  which  was  finally  given  to  Mr.  Stanger  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1897  he  was  elected  the  grand  master.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  over  New  Jersey  in  the  interest  of  the  order  and  has 
been  especially  active  in  the  higher  degrees  and  in  the  benevolent  work  of 
the  order.  Mr.  Stanger  has  been  the  captain  and  chaplain  of  the  First 
Regiment.  Department  of  New  Jersey,  of  the  Patriarchs  Militant,  since 
1895.  He  is  a  member  of  Fraternal  Encampment.  No.  23.  of  Woodbury; 
of  Crescent  Lodge.  No.  16.  of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  of  Linwood.  New 
Jersey,  and  also  of  Pocahontas  Council,  No.  48,  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics,  at  Glassboro.  Early  impressed  with  religious  convictions,  he 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Glassboro  in  early  life  and 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  church  and  Sunday-school  work.  He  has  been 
a  steward  and  class-leader  in  the  church  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  united  in  matrimony  on  April  3.  1884.  with 
Miss  Louisa  M.  Beckett,  a  daughter  of  Gabriel  and  Elizabeth  (MofTett) 
Beckett,  of  Glassboro.  One  child.  Jessie  M..  has  blessed  their  union.  Mr. 
Stanger  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasing  address  and  genial  disposition  and  is 
universally  popular. 


152  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

GEORGE  HORNER. 

The  idea  was  once  poindar  that  an_\'  one  conld  farm  successfully.  This 
theory  was  lon^"  ago  exjjloded.  howe\'er.  Good  farmers  are  "born  and  not 
made"  as  trulv  as  any  other  class  of  workers;  and  if  it  is  true  that  special 
and  technical  knowledge  and  training  are  essential  to  the  ]orofessional  man, 
it  is  no  less  true  that  they  are  indispensable  to  the  farmer,  and  the  fanner 
who  makes  farming  pay  should  be  perhaps  dignified  with  the  appellation  of 
professional  farmer.  South  Jersey  has  been  a  great  agricultural  university, 
in  which  good  farmers  have  been  graduated  during  many  successive  genera- 
tions. It  is  to  detail  something  of  the  busy  career  of  one  of  these  that  this 
brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  George  Horner,  of  \\'oodstown.  is  here  incor- 
porated. 

George  Horner  is  a  native  of  Harrison,  formerly  Woolwich,  township. 
Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  June  22,  1825.  His  parents, 
Elijah  and  Elizabeth  (Coles)  Horner,  were  natives  and  lifelong  residents  of 
Gloucester  county.  Elijah  Horner  was  born  in  1790,  and  died  in  1872,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  father,  George  Horner,  w'as  also  born  in 
Gloucester  county,  in  1764,  and  died  in  1847.  Thomas  Coles,  the  maternal 
grandfather,  was  prominent  in  his  native  county  as  a  farmer,  a  mill-owner 
and  influential  citizen  of  Harrisonville.  Elijah  Horner  was  an  extensive 
farmer  and  owner  of  considerable  real  estate.  Elizabeth  (Coles)  Horner 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  The  following  facts  concerning  her 
children  will  be  found  interesting  in  this  connection:  Susan  is  dead,  as  are 
also  Alartha,  who  married  Robert  Kirkljride:  and  Caroline,  who  married 
Samuel  Gaunt.  Alice  is  the  widow  of  Joseph  Harker.  Eliza  is  dead. 
George  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mary  Ann  married  Jacob 
Kirby.     Elma,  who  is  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Chalkley  Duell. 

The  education  of  George  Horner  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools 
near  his  home  and  his  early  employment  was  upon  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  gained  a  practical  knowledge  of  agriculture;  His  first  undertaking  on 
his  own  account  was  in  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  rented  the  farm  of  Jacob 
Moore  for  one  year.  In  1848  he  returned  to  his  father's  farm,  which  he  con- 
trolled three  years  under  lease.  In  1851  he  leased  another  of  his  father's 
farms  for  six  years,  and  in  1857  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
acres  in  Harrison  township.  He  sold  this  place  soon  afterward,  however, 
and  bought  another,  containing  two  hundred  acres,  in  the  same  township, 
which  he  operated  until  1891  and  which  he  still  owns. 

Mr.  Horner  was  a  successful  farmer,  who  loved  the  soil  which  yielded  up 
its  wealth  to  him  under  his  scientific  farming  and  added  honor  to  a  pursuit 


COXGRESSIOXJL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  153 

ancient  and  through  all  ages  useful  and  praiseworthy.  To  farming  he  ap- 
plied the  same  good  judgment,  the  same  degree  of  special  knowledge  and 
the  same  measure  of  application  and  perseverance  which  \\  ould  have  heen 
essential  to  his  success  in  anv  other  field  of  human  endeaxor.  When  he  gave 
up  active  life  he  removed  to  ^Voodstown  and  took  a  jirominent  place  in  a 
coterie  of  retired  farmers  who  rank  with  the  very  l)est  citizens  of  Salem 
county.  He  has  taken  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  Woodstown,  and  his 
puhlic  spirit  was  recognized  in  his  being  elected  a  member  of  the  borough 
council.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Friends'  meeting  of  Woodstown,  and  in  all 
relations  of  citizenship  is  characteristically  liberal  and  helpful. 

In  1847  ^Ii"-  Horner  married  Hannah  Moore,  daughter  of  Asa  Moore, 
a  prominent  farmer  and  politician  of  Gloucester  county.  Mrs.  Moore,  who 
died  in  1858,  aged  twenty-se\en,  had  two  sons, — Asa  and  Elijah,  the  latter 
being  deceased.  Asa  is  a  resident  of  Colorado.  In  i860  Mr,  Horner  married 
Hannah  Lippincott,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lippincott,  who  married  Lydia 
Iredell,  and  was  a  well  known  citizen  of  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  where  he 
died  in  1887.  Hannah  (Lippincott)  Horner  bore  her  husband  a  son,  Frank- 
lin Horner,  and  died  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years.  In  1865  Mr. 
Horner  married  his  present  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Ann  (Garrett)  Kirk,  late  of  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  she  bore 
him  the  following  children:  George,  Jr..  Mary  Kirk,  Lewis  D.  and  Elma. 
Dr.  Lewis  D.  Horner  was  born  at  Harrisonville,  Gloucester  county.  May  i, 
1872,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  at  the  West  Chester,  Pennsylvania, 
Normal  School,  and  was  graduated  in  veterinary  medicine  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1898.  He  is  now  practicing  his  profession  at 
Woodstown  with  signal  success. 


HORACE  P.  STRICKLAND. 

At  an  early  period  in  the  development  of  New  Jersey  Samuel  Strickland, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  became  a  resident  of  Burlington  county,  and 
Samuel  Strickland,  the  father  of  Horace,  was  a  native  of  that  county.  Hav- 
ing arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  chose  as  a  helpmeet  and  companion  on 
the  journey  of  life  Miss  Abigail  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  four  children:  John,  the  eldest,  was  an  engineer 
and  for  many  years  ser\ed  in  that  capacit\-  on  the  "Ed  Forest,"  running 
between  Philadelphia  and  Trenton:  later  he  purchased  a  home  in  Repaupo, 
where  he  died  when  about  seventy  years  of  age;  Anna  resides  with  her 
brother,  Horace;  Charles,  a  tailor  by  trade,  died  in  Camden,  at  the  age  of 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   Of   THE   FIRST 

twenty-three  years:  and  Horace  Pennington  completes  the  family.  The  last 
named  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools  of  Berkley.  New  Jersey. 
where  he  spent  his  time  until  twelve  years  of  age.  In  starting  out  upon  his 
business  career  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  and  later  engaged 
in  gardening.  Since  1869  he  has  rented  his  present  farm  and  is  now  quite 
extensively  engaged  in  producing  garden  vegetables,  for  which  he  finds  a 
ready  sale  in  the  city  markets.  He  was  born  in  Morristown.  on  the  21st  of 
June,  1 84 1,  and  in  early  life  came  to  Gloucester  county. 

In  1871  Mr.  Strickland  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Brewer,  a 
daughter  of  Ivans  Brewer,  by  whom  he  has  three  children:  Melissa,  the  wife 
of  Louis  Sharp,  of  Bridgeport,  by  whom  he  has  a  daughter,  Ethel:  and  Ada 
and  Sarah,  who  are  under  the  parental  roof.  Mr.  Strickland  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  the  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party.  l)ut  has  never  sought  official  return  therefor.  His  life  is  in  a  manner 
quiet  and  uneventful,  as  is  that  of  most  of  our  representative  American 
citizens,  for,  giving  their  attention  exclusively  to  business,  they  are  slightly 
connected  with  the  events  which  form  sensational  paragraphs  for  the  news- 
papers. It  is  the  reliable  business  men.  however,  who  form  the  bulwark  of 
the  nation  antl  w  ho  deserve  to  be  mentioned  in  the  pages  of  history. 


RUFUS  \\'.  SMITH. 


Every  community  is  the  better  for  haxing  in  its  midst  men  of  recog- 
nized business  ability  who  attract  trade  and  make  friends  in  a  legitimate 
way,  thus  building  up  the  commerce  of  all  while  they  are  looking  after  their 
own  interests;  and  Elmer,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  is  especially  fortunate 
in  this  respect,  as  the  gentleman  whose  sketch  it  is  our  pleasure  here  to 
present  not  only  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  business  man  who  pushed  his 
own  business  to  the  fullest,  but  is  also  a  large-hearted  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  and  is  equally  energetic  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  village 
and  thereby  the  surrounding  country.  Rufus  W.  Smith,  the  leading  dealer 
in  agricultural  implements,  coal,  feed,  etc..  in  this  part  of  New  Jersey,  is 
a  product  of  the  village  of  whom  the  citizens  are  justly  proud,  and  lives 
in  the  same  house  in  which  he  was  born,  April  9,  1858,  and  occupies  the 
room  in  which  not  only  he  but  his  children  as  well  were  introduced  to  this 
mundane  sphere.  His  father  was  Da\  id  V.  M.  Smith,  a  son  of  John  Smith. 
who  came  from  England  and  settled  near  Shirley,  this  county. 

David  \'.  M.  Smith  was  a  blacksmith  l)y  trade  and  settled  in  Elmer  in 
1852,  opening  a  blacksmith  shop  and  carrying  all  kinds  of  farm  implements 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  155 

for  sale.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Heighten,  whose  father  was  a  prom- 
inent editor  of  Philadelphia  and  a  speaker  of  considerable  ability.  Mrs. 
Smith  is  now  in  her  se\'enly-second  year  and  has  had  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  living:  Anna,  the  wife  of  John  J.  Burleigh,  of  Merchantville. 
Camden  county,  this  state:  and  Rufus  \\'.  Mrs.  Smith  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  post-ofifice  when  her  husband  entered  the  army  and  in  connection  with 
it  conducted  a  small  store.  Mr.  Smith  was  postmaster  at  the  time  of  the 
civil  contest  and  was  exempt  from  draft,  but  he  was  patriotic  and  felt  that 
his  country  needed  him  in  the  ranks.  Accordingly  he  enlisted  in  the 
Twelfth  New  Jersey  \'olunteers  and  went  forth  to  do  battle  for  the  cause 
of  freedom.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  laid  down 
his  life  for  the  cause  he  loved. — not  dying  amidst  friends  and  family.  l)ut 
meeting  a  soldier's  death  in  the  midst  of  war. 

Rufus  W.  Smith  attended  the  public  schools  when  a  lad  and  as  soon  as 
he  was  old  enough  assisted  his  widowed  mother  in  the  store  and  post- 
of^ce.  He  continued  this  until  about  1885.  when  he  liegan  business  for 
himself,  opening  a  small  stock  of  coal,  seed  and  feed  in  a  building  now 
replaced  by  his  large  agricultural  depot.  He  has  pushed  his  business  to 
the  front  and  in  a  few  years  after  he  began  showed  his  competitors  that 
he  was  there  to  stay.  He  has  added  to  his  original  stock  a  complete  line 
of  agricultural  implements  of  all  descriptions,  and  it  is  an  unusual  thing  for 
him  to  fail  to  supply  any  article  in  his  line  when  called  for.  From  doing 
a  local  business  he  has  extended  his  trade  out  to  the  surrounding  country 
and  now  has  the  largest  business  in  his  line  of  all  merchants  in  Salem 
county,  sending  large  bills  of  goods  to  all  parts  of  southern  New  Jersey. 
Clayton.  Atlantic  City,  Port  Elizabeth,  etc.  Each  week  sees  a  surprisingly 
large  sale  of  carriages  and  buggies  from  his  house,  each  customer  acting 
as  an  incidental  ad\ertisement  of  the  merits  of  the  vehicle.  He  believes  in 
advertising,  and  in  this  lies  much  of  the  secret  of  his  extraordinary  success, 
as  he  understands  perfectly  the  best  means  to  be  employed  and  what  method 
to  adopt  to  attract  public  notice  and  patronage. 

As  the  lady  best  suited  to  preside  at  his  home,  Mr.  Smith  chose  Miss 
EHzabeth  Brill,  a  daughter  of  Conrad  Brill,  of  this  village.  Their  nuptials 
were  celebrated  November  18,  1879,  and  the  home  then  founded  by  them 
is  to-day  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  cheerful  spots  in  the  village  of 
Elmer.  They  still  reside  in  the  old  home  rendered  especially  dear  to  him 
from  childhood's  associations:  and  while  this  has  been  improved  and  en- 
larged the  former  building  was  preserved  and  is  the  nucleus  around  which 
his  magnificent  new  residence  was  built,  and  the  room  in  which  he  was  born 
and  in  which  his  children  first  opened  their  e\es  to  the  light  of  da_\'  is  the 


156  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

one  still  used  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith.  There  are  three  children  who  have 
added  an  additional  charm  to  the  home:  Charles  C.  a  youth  of  special 
promise  who  graduated  at  Temple  College.  Philadelphia,  as  the  valedic- 
torian of  his  class,  and  is  now  entered  at  Princeton  University.  Anna  and 
John  llurleigh.  'llie  residence  is  situated  opposite  the  Methodist  church 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  in  South  Jersey.  It  is  complete  and  modern  in  every 
detail.  One  of  the  most  pleasing  features  of  the  place  is  the  large  green- 
house, in  which  he  takes  special  pleasure  and  where  he  raises  about  two 
thousand  magnificent  chrysanthemunis  every  year.  Here  he  finds  his  rec- 
reation from  toil,  and  his  flowers  are  the  envy  and  delig'ht  of  all  who  see  them, 
many  visitors  coming  from  distant  parts  of  the  state  to  view  their  beauties. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  very  busy  man,  one  of  the  brightest,  rnost  wide-awake 
business  men  in  the  county,  and  he  is  also  a  man  who  loves  to  linger  around 
his  own  fireside  and  ofTer  hospitality  to  his  friends,  yet  withal  he  is  a  man  of 
public  spirit  and  enterprise,  and  has  done  a  great  amount  of  good  in  pro- 
moting and  encouraging  infant  industries  and  improvements.  As  the 
chairman  of  the  building  committee,  he  was  a  prime  mover  and  one  of  the 
largest  subscribers  toward  the  erection  of  the  Methodist  church  and  p:\r- 
sonage.  This  is  a  magnificent  structure,  costing  thirty  thousand  dollars, 
and  would  do  credit  to  a  town  much  larger  than  the  modest  little  village 
of  Elmer.  Mr.  Smith  had  a  stained-glass  window  built  in  the  church,  and  it 
adds  in  a  great  measure  to  the  pleasing  eft'ect.  He  is  the  secretar\'  of  the 
ofiicial  board  of  the  chiirch.  of  which  he  has  for  years  been  a  prominent 
member.  He  has  been  active  in  securing  new  industries  for  the  village,  and 
went  personally  to  bring  ^Ir.  Bassett  here,  with  the  result  that  the  S.  M. 
Bassett  Glass  Company  was  located  at  this  place.  He  has  been  the  chairman 
of  the  Republican  count}-  convention  and  lias  lieen  frequently  importuned 
to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  for  ofiice.  but  the  petty  emoluments  of  office 
have  no  attraction  for  him  and  he  has  refused  to  be  drawn  into  the  whirlpool 
of  politics. 


D.  WILSON  MOORE. 


D.  Wilson  ^loore  was  born  in  Cedarville.  Cumberland  county,  Xew  Jer- 
sey. September  23.  1830,  and  is  of  Irish  descent,  his  ancestors  having  come 
to  the  New  World  from  the  Emerald  Isle  at  an  early  day.  Enoch  Moore, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  tailor  and  farmer.  His  son,  William 
Moore,  the  father  of  Wilson,  also  followed  the  same  pursuits.  Both  w  ere 
natives  of  Salem  county,  and  in  1825  William  Moore  removed  to  Cumber- 
land county,  locating  in  Bridgeton.  whence  he  subsequently  went  to  Cedar- 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  157 

\ille.  \Mien  a  man  of  twenty-five  years  he  made  a  long  trip  on  horseliack 
with  a  missionary  party  that  traveled  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  the  section 
of  tlie  countr}-  then  inhabited  by  the  Cherokee  Indians.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Presl)yterian  church  and  a  most  earnest  Christian  gentleman,  whose 
upright  life  exemplified  his  faith.  He  was  noted  for  his  cheerful  disposition, 
and  his  uniform  good  nature  could  not  fail  to  have  its  efifect  upon  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  As  a  companion  and  helpmeet  on  life's  journey 
he  chose  Miss  Eunice  Mayhew,  a  daughter  of  John  Mayhew,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Salem  county,  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  state  legislature. 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Moore  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  four  are 
li\ing:  John  M.,  of  Clayton;  Anna  E.,  who  resides  with  her  elder  l^rother; 
D.  Wilson^  and  Sarah,  who  also  makes  her  home  with  her  lirother  John. 

D.  Wilson  Moore  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  English  branches 
of  learning  in  the  schools  of  Cedarville,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  clerk- 
ing in  a  store  at  Millville,  where  he  remained  for  twelve  years.  He  then  came 
to  Clayton,  where  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother,  John  M. 
Together  they  operated  the  glass  factory  at  that  place,  their  business  con- 
stantly growing  and  bringing  to  them  an  excellent  income.  In  1896,  how- 
ever, our  subject  retired,  selling  his  interest  to  his  sons,  David,  Howard  and 
Charles. 

In  1858  Mr.  Moore  married  Anna  Pierce,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Pieixe, 
of  Clayton,  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  namelv:  David,  Mary, 
Marion,  Howard,  Charles,  Anna,  Ethel,  and  two  who  are  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Moore  has  long  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
for  many  years  served  as  its  elder.  He  may  justly  be  called  a  self-made  man. 
He  had  no  capital  or  influential  friends  to  aid  him  as  he  starter!  out  upon 
his  business  career,  but  depended  entirely  upon  his  own  efforts.  He  has  met 
some  difficulties  and  obstacles,  yet  has  overcome  these  by  determined  purpose 
and  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence  so  that  he 
is  now  numbered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  his  coimtv. 


TAMES  S.  WHEELER. 


James  Simmons  Wheeler,  a  jeweler  of  Salem,  has  the  largest  store  of  its 
kind  south  of  Trenton  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  young  business  men 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  is  a  son  of  Caleb  and  Clarissa  (Swing)  Wheeler 
and  was  born  January  20,  1861,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  this  city.  His 
grandfather.  Rev.  George  Rose  Wheeler,  was  bom  in  Olney,  Buckingham- 
shire, England,  where  he  received  his  education.     He  learned  the  trade  of 


158  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

jeweler  and  watchmaker  and  was  the  snperintendent  of  a  watcli  factory  in 
England.  He  was  also  a  preacher  in  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  chnrch.  He 
arrived  in  America  Jtme  4.  1844,  with  his  wife  and  nine  children,  and  located 
in  this  city,  where  he  opened  a  jewelry  store,  which  he  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  his  son  Caleb,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wheeler  &  Son.  He  also 
had  charge  of  a  church,  where  he  preached  the  gospel  and  comforted  the 
sorrowing.  He  married  Hannah  Robinson  and  reared  the  following  child- 
ren: Joshua,  deceased,  who  was  a  large  stock-raiser  of  Kansas,  where  he 
owned  a  ranch  of  six  or  eight  hundred  acres:  he  was  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature and  later  a  senator;  Bethia.  who  married  Alpheus  Davidson,  a  printer 
by  trade,  l)ut  now  connected  with  the  pension  department  at  ^^'ashington: 
Samuel  is  a  prominent  minister  in  the  Seventh  Day  Baptist  church  at  Boul- 
der, Colorado;  Joseph  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  and  served 
through  that  conflict:  he  is  now  engaged  in  business  in  Elwood.  Illinois; 
Mary  married  Charles  Watson,  a  farmer  of  Greenw'ich.  this  state;  Caleb,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  and  three  daughters,  who  are  married  and  living  in  the 
west.  The  Rev.  George  R.  Wheeler  reached  the  age  of  eight}-two  years  and 
his  wife  was  even  older,  having  passed  her  ninety-fourth  year. 

Caleb  Wheeler  was  born  and  educated  in  England.  He  was  an  omnivor- 
ous reader  and  became  a  man  of  intelligence  and  discernment.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  watchmaker  of  his  father  and  follow'ed  that  business,  being  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  when  he  conducted  the 
store  alone.  He  was  always  interested  in  public  enterprises  and  was  a  prime 
mover  in  estalilishing  the  public  library  of  Salem,  of  which  he  was  a  director 
and  treasurer  and  took  an  active  interest  in  it.  He  was  also  connected  with 
the  Salem  Historical  Society.  He  possessed  great  force  of  character  and  his 
approval  of  an  enterprise  or  movement  for  the  betterment  of  the  municipality 
made  it  a  safe  winner.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  and  the 
board  of  trade,  and  was  especiallv  interested  in  benevolent  work,  having 
been  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  Salem.  He  was  a  memlier  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  on  the  board  of  trustees  for  several  years 
and  filled  other  offices  in  the  church.  He  married  Clarissa  Swing  and  had 
six  children,  namely:  George  Rose,  a  jeweler  with  J.  E.  Caldwell  &  Com- 
pany, of  Philadelphia,  occupies  a  responsible  position  and  resides  at  Gennan- 
town;his  wife  was  Anna  Briggs,  a  daughter  of  Judge  William  Briggs,  of  Yates 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have  two  children, — Victor  and  Ruth.  Edgar, 
who  is  a  jeweler  and  resides  at  Paterson.  married  Maggie  Lloyd,  of  Salem. 
James  S.  is  the  subject  of  this  .sketch.  Ella  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Han- 
nah is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Gilmore,  who  is  employed  by  Hires  &  Company, 
of  Philadelphia,  and  resides  at  Merchantville.     Arthur  A.  is  a  traveling  sales- 


COXCRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJV  JERSEY.  159 

man  for  Louis  \\'.  Hraba,  a  manufacturer  of  fine  leather  goods  of  New  York. 
Their  father  died  February  3.  1896,  in  his  seventy-first  year,  and  their  motlier 
died  September  15,  1898,  aged  sixty-eight.  Their  Hves  had  been  so  unselfish 
and  honorable,  filled  with  deeds  of  kindness  to  others  less  fortunate  than 
they,  that  many  a  heart  bears  willing  tribute  to  their  worth  and  goodly  deeds. 
James  Simmons  Wheeler  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem  and 
learned  the  trade  of  jeweler  of  his  father.  He  soon  became  a  proficient  work- 
man and  assisted  his  father  in  the  business  until  the  latter  s  death,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  entire  stock  and  now  conducts  the  store  by  himself,— the  .same 
store  established  so  many  years  ago  by  his  grandfather'  He  has  the  largest 
store  of  the  kind  in  southern  New  Jersey  and  employs  four  men  to  carry  on 
the  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church,  and  united  with  Forest  Lodge,  No.  7,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
eight  years  ago.  He  was  married  October  12,  1892,  to  Miss  Elva  Wilson,' 
a  daughter  of  John  Wilson,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Delaware.  One  child,  James 
Otis,  has  been  born  to  Mr.  Wheeler  and  wife.  At  their  cozy  hearthstone 
their  guests  are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome. 


THOAL\S  W.  DAVIDSON. 

Thomas  W.  Davidson,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  reliable  produce 
shippers  of  Swedesboro.  was  born  in  Clarksboro,  New  Jersey,  on  the  15th 
of  January,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  John  and  Ann  (Justice)  Davidson. 
His  father  is  now  deceased.  Thomas  Walker  Davidson  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Greenwich  township  and  of  Swedesboro,  and  throughout 
his  youth,  when  not  engaged  with  school  duties,  assisted  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm.  After  his  marriage  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account,  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  near  Swedesboro  for  three  years. 
Subsequently  he  conducted  a  farm  on  Oldman's  creek  for  nine  years,  when, 
in  1876,  he  removed  to  Swedesboro,  where  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  been  engaged  in  shipping  produce.  He  has  built  up  a  large  and  prof- 
itable business,  and  now  enjoys  a  liberal  income  therefrom.  He  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  in  this  line,  and  his  success  has  been  both  creditable  and  satis- 
factory. 

In  1 88 1  Mr.  Davidson  erected  a  pleasant  dwelling  on  Railroad  avenue, 
and  the  household  is  noted  for  its  hospitality.  He  was  married  March  i, 
i860,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Shute,  a  daughter  of  Atley  Shute,  of  Harrison 
township,  Gloucester  county.  Three  children  were  born  to  them,  namely: 
Susanna,  Atley  and  Helen;  but  all  died  in  childhood.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  David- 


i6o  HIOGKAPHJCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

son  are  faitliful  and  consistent  niemliers  of  the  Swedesl)oro  Alethodist  Episco- 
pal clnirch.  of  wliich  lie  was  formerly  a  trustee,  while  for  fifteen  vears  he  has 
held  the  office  of  steward.  He  does  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth 
of  the  church  and  to  advance  the  cause  of  Christianity  among  men.  He  has 
been  for  many  years  a  member  of  Osceola  Lodge,  No.  75,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  has 
passed  all  of  the  chairs  five  times  and  has  been  representative  to  the  grand 
lodge.  He  is  a  charter  niemlier  of  the  Coeur  de  Lion  Council,  No.  36, 
K.  G.  E.,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  Republican  and  loyally  ad\-o- 
cates  the  principles  of  the  party. 


HENRY  CLAY  CLARK.  M.  D. 

The  successful  physician  must  possess  in  a  marked  degree  certain  charac- 
teristics, and  knowledge  and  experience,  however  necessary  and  invaluable, 
are  not  the  sole  requisites.  The  successful  practitioner  is  usually  found  to 
have  noble,  broad-minded  intelligence,  ready  sympathy,  a  cheerful,  opti- 
mistic view  of  life  and  keenness  and  accuracy  in  the  analysis  of  the  main- 
springs of  action  in  those  with  whom  he  is  Ijronght  in  contact.  These 
qualities  are  marked  in  Dr.  Henry  C.  Clark,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
medical  profession  of  Gloucester  county,  and  recognized  to  be  one  of  the 
distinctively  representative  citizens  of  Woodbury. 

His  father.  Charles  French  Clark,  a  son  of  John  V.  Clark,  was  born 
in  Paulsboro,  Gloucester  county,  in  1800.  His  primary  education  was  ob- 
tained in  his  native  place,  and  later  he  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  graduated.  Subsquently  he 
practiced  his  profession  in  Paulsboro  until  1836,  when  he  came  to  Wood- 
bury. Here  he  soon  established  a  large  and  remunerative  practice,  to  which 
he  devoted  himself  for  the  succeeding  forty-one  years.  In  1867  he  retired 
from  the  active  duties  which  had  so  long  occupied  his  time  and  earnest 
attention,  and,  locating  in  Camden,  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life  there,  his  death  occurring  in  1875.  While  a  resident  of  Paulsboro  he 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  time  and  for  five  years  he  held 
the  responsible  ofifice  of  treasurer  of  the  funds  of  Gloucester  county. 

The  faithful  companion  and  helpmate  of  Charles  F.  Clark  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  V.  Hughes.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them, 
namely:  John  T.,  of  Chicago.  Illinois;  Henry  Clay;  Thomas  M.,  who  died 
in  Philadelphia  in  1861;  Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  C.  Clement  Whitall,  a  resident 
of  the  neighborhood  of  Woodbury;  Mary  B.,  the  widow  of  the  late  Theo- 
dore Buck,  and  now  living  in  Woodbury;  Ada  L,,  the  widow  of  E.  Bradford 


't^uu^ 


Y 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJ!'  JERSEY.  i6i 

Clarke:  Anna  R..  who  Ijecame  the  wife  of  Joseph  Carter  and  (Ued  while 
journeying  to  her  home  in  Xew  Jersey  after  a  trip  to  the  west;  Charles  R., 
deceased;  Edwin  Forrest,  who  was  accidentally  drowned  in  i860;  Evelvn, 
the  wadow  of  the  late  Dr.  Randall  Morgan,  of  Camden,  New  Jersey;  and 
Caroline,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Tlie  birth  of  Dr.  H.  C.  Clark  occurred  in  Paulsboro,  Gloucester  county, 
November  24,  1832.  As  a  boy  he  pursued  his  elementary  studies  in  the 
private  school  of  Woodbury,  and  at  Hopewell  Academy,  Hopewell,  Penn- 
sylvania, completed  his  literar\-  education.  Then,  deciding  to  take  up  his 
father's  profession,  he  read  medicine  under  his  guidance,  and  later  attended 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1853.  Return- 
ing to  Woodbury,  he  immediately  opened  an  ol^ce  and  entered  upon  a 
professional  career  which  has  been  unusually  long  and  prosperous.  For 
forty-six  years  he  has  Ijeen  in  uninterrupted  practice,  with  the  exception  of 
the  three  years  which  he  gave  to  his  country  during  the  civil  war.  It  was 
in  October,  1861,  that  the  Doctor  ofifered  his  services  in  the  Union  armv, 
being  mustered  into  the  Second  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Volunteers  and 
appointed  assistant  surgeon.  At  the  close  of  three  years  he  was  honorably 
discharged  and  returned  home.  The  greater  part  of  his  service  was  with 
the  Third  New  Jersey  Regiment,  though  at  the  time  he  was  mustered  out 
he  was  the  surgeon  of  the  Thirty-seventh  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  He 
ser\'ed  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  through  all  its  campaigns  and  was  taken 
prisoner  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  at  which  time  he  was  acting 
brigade  surgeon.  Was  again  captured,  at  the  battle  of  Salem  Church.  He 
gained  broad  and  practical  experience  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine  and 
surgery,  and  his  labors  were  of  great  benefit  to  the  "boys  in  blue"  who 
suffered  wounds  upon  the  battle-fields  of  the  south.  The  same  spirit  of 
patriotism  which  animated  him  during  the  terrible  crisis  in  our  nation's  his- 
tory has  been  manifested  by  him  in  times  of  peace.  He  is  genial  and  cour- 
teous to  one  and  all,  and  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  is 
his  in  a  marked  degree. 

For  five  years  Dr.  Clark  held  the  trustworthy  position  of  county  treas- 
urer. He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally  he 
stands  high  in  the  councils  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order.  He  is  a  member 
and  past  noble  grand  of  Woodbury  Lodge,  No.  54,  and  belongs  to  the 
encampment  also.  For  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  Christ  Episcopal 
church,  in  connection  with  which  he  now  holds  the  ofifice  of  warden. 

When  he  returned  from  the  war  Dr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Lucy  L  Wood,  a  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Sarah  (Bradwav)  Wood. 
The  ceremony  which  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  was  per- 
il—k 


i62  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PIRST 

formed  in  Salem,  Salem  county,  Xew  Jersey,  November  30,  1864,  and  for 
thirty-three  and  a  half  years  their  lives  were  happily  spent  together.  Mrs. 
Clark,  who  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  faithful  in  all  her  relations  with 
others,  was  summoned  to  the  silent  land  March  28,  1898.  Her  only  daugh- 
ter, Alice  Wood  Clark,  was  born  November  16,   1865. 

The  only  son  of  our  subject  and  wife  is  Dr.  Henry  Herbert  Clark,  whose 
birth  took  place  January  16,  1868.  He  was  given  excellent  educational 
advantages,  his  literary  studies  being  pursued  in  Woodbury  Academy  and 
Mount  Pleasant  Academy,  at  Sing  Sing,  New  York.  Later  he  read  medi- 
cine with  his  father  as  his  preceptor,  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
doctor  of  medicine  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1891.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in  Woodbury,  and  promises  to  have 
as  successful  a  career  as  did  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him.  He 
was  married  in  Wenonah,  New  Jersey,  in  1891,  .Miss  Franceina  Botsford 
becoming  his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  A.  P.  and  ^lary 
(Pardee)  Botsford,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Helen  B.,  the  pride  of  her  grandparents.  The  young  couple  have 
a  very  pleasant  home  and  are  general  favorites  in  local  society. 


JAMES  W.  COLDER. 


James  W.  Colder,  of  Centerton,  Lower  Pittsgrove,  Salem.  Xew  Jersey, 
a  thoroughgoing  farmer  and  wheelwright,  was  born  at  the  place  just  named, 
January  4,  185 1.  His  father  was  Samuel  Colder,  a  native  of  the  same  local- 
ity. Our  subject's  grandfather,  on  the  paternal  side,  was  Joseph  Colder,  born 
at  Tuckahoe.  New  Jersey.  The  family  came  from  Switzerland,  originally, 
and  he  of  whom  we  pen  this  sketch  is  of  the  fourth  generation  in  this  coun- 
try. His  great-grandfather  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  where  Summers' 
Point,  Atlantic  county,  is  now.  He  killed  an  Indian  and  had  to  gi\-e  u]i  the 
land  to  get  out  of  the  difficulty  occasioned  by  it.  Samuel  Colder,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  opened  a  shop' in  1830  at 
Centerton  and  continued  to  wield  the  hammer  at  the  anvil  until  his  death 
in  1870.  He  was  a  strong  man  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
which  bodv  he  was  one  of  the  stewards  and  trustees.  As  a  citizen  the  county 
had  no  truer,  better  man.  He  married'Ruth  B.  Whitaker,  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Whitaker,  of  Cedarville.  She  is  still  living,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Their  four  children  were:  Harriet.  Mrs. 
Ceorge  Hannan,  of    Bridgeton,  New  Jersey;  ^\'illiam  \\'.,  of    Centerton; 


CONGRESSIOA'AL    DISTRICT   OF   NEJJ'   JERSEY.  163 

Anna  M.,  the  wife  of  tlie  present  count)'  clerk.  William  P>.  Trenchard,  of 
Bridgeton;  and  our  subject  proper,  James  W.  Colder. 

James  W.  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  time  and  gained  a  fair 
education,  after  which  he  learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright,  which  he  still 
follows,  in  conjunction  with  his  farming,  he  having  a  fine  ten-acre  tract  of 
land.  October  29,  1873,  marked  a  new  and  important  era  in  this  man's  life, 
for  upon  that  day  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  E.  Kean,  the  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  William  Kean,  of  Deerfield.  By  this  union  three  children 
were  born,  two  of  whom  still  sur\-ive  to  bless  their  good  parents, — Carrie 
E.  and  R.  Boyd. 

Politically  Mr.  Colder  is  an  active  member  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
has  been  a  township  clerk  and  assessor  and  is  now  holding  the  office  of  col- 
lector. Being  an  enterprising  and  np-to-date  citizen  his  name  is  found  on  the 
roll  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge,  to  which  order  he  has  lielonged  for  the  last 
twenty-eight  years. 

In  recording  the  life  of  this  worthy  gentleman,  the  reader  will  observe 
that  the  writer  has  attempted  to  give  only  the  chief  points  in  the  career  of  a 
plain,  unassuming  resident  of  Centerton.  He  has  e\'er  been  an  honorable 
citizen,  a  good  husband  and  an  indulgent  father.  With  such  a  true  record 
he  may  well  count  his  life  a  success.  He  has  spent  the  most  of  his  life,  thus 
far,  in  the  county  in  which  he  was  born,  and  this  speaks  well  for  him,  in 
this  age  when  men  become  restless  and  for  some  cause,  honorable  or  dishon- 
able,  move  from  place  to  place.  Indeed,  to  have  the  respect  of  a  county 
where  one  has  lived  and  labored  for  a  whole  life-time  is  credit  enough  for  anv 
man  to  leave  to  his  children. 


willia:\i  henry  church. 

This  gentleman,  the  well-known  proprietor  of  the  Colonial  Hotel  of  Cape 
May,  was  born  at  Cold  Spring,  Cape  May  county,  on  the  26th  of  August, 
1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Captain  John  and  INIary  B.  (Hall)  Church.  His  father 
was  a  sea  captain  and  commanded  a  number  of  vessels.  He  was  lost  from 
the  schooner  Viking  on  the  26th  of  April,  1893,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been 
killed  as  no  traces  of  him  were  ever  obtained.  He  had  followed  the  sea 
throughout  his  life  and  was  a  ver\-  able  and  courageous  seaman.  He  dis- 
played great  bravery  in  the  face  of  appalling  danger  and  had  many  narrow 
escapes  from  death,  and  at  one  time  he  drifted  in  a  West  Indian  gale  for  sixteen 
days  and  nights  and  the  vessel  at  length  went  to  pieces;  but  Captain  Church 


i64  BlOCK.irillCAI.    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

was  rescued.  He  in;ule  his  lujiue  in  west  Ca]ie  May.  where  he  was  esteemed 
not  only  for  his  sterhng-  worth,  Ijut  for  his  l)ravery  upon  the  water.  His 
political  sui^port  was  given  to  the  Democratic  party  and  he  was  a  zealous 
advocate  of  its  principles.  He  belonged  to  several  secret  societies,  including 
the  Independent  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Mogullions  and  Improved 
Order  of  Heptasophs.  He  married  Mary  B.  Hall,  who  is  still  surviving  him, 
being  now  fifty-six  years  of  age.  To  them  were  born  four  children:  WW- 
liani  11.;  Charles  S.,  a  carpenter  at  Cape  May;  E\a.  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  and  John,  who  is  serving  an  apprenticeship  as  a  pilot. 

The  eldest  son,  William  H.  Church,  was  educated  in  west  Cape  May, 
where  he  completed  the  grammar  school  course,  but  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  put  aside  his  text-books  and  learned  the  printer's  trade.  He  after- 
ward worked  at  the  goldbeating  trade  in  Philadelphia  and  subsequently  be- 
came an  apprentice  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  completing  a  four  years'  term. 
After  working  as  a  journeyman  for  a  time  he  began  contracting  and  build- 
ing on  his  own  account.  He  erected  a  number  of  cottages  and  built  the 
board  walks  in  Cape  May  under  contract,  emjiloying  as  many  as  thirty-five 
men  in  the  prosecution  of  his  business  interests.  He  continued  contracting 
until  1897,  and  is  also  an  architect,  drawing  the  plans  for  many  of  the  build- 
ings which  he  erected.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade  of 
Cape  May,  and  he  now  devotes  his  attention  to  the  hotel  business,  being  the 
proprietor  of  the  Colonial  Hotel,  which  was  built  in  1894.  Accommodation 
is  furnished  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  guests  and  the  hotel  is  open  from 
June  to  October,  during  which  time  it  is  liberally  patronized,  for  its  excel- 
lent accommodations  secure  a  large  support  from  the  public.  In  addition 
to  this  property  Mr.  Church  at  one  time  owned  a  residence  in  west  Cajie 
Ma\-,  which  he  has  since  sold. 

On  the  f)th  of  September,  1884,  Mr.  Church  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lorena  F.  Church,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth  Church. 
They  now  have  two  children, — Anna  May  and  Walter;  and  they  lost  their 
second  child,  Herman,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  In  politics  Mr. 
Church  is  a  Democrat  with  prohibition  sympathies,  and  in  his  life  exemplified 
his  belief  in  prohibition  principles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  of  the  Mogullions  Society  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of 
the  Death  Benefit  Association,  and  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men.  For  seven  years  he  was  connected  with  the  military 
interests  of  the  state  and  served  as  sergeant  of  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment, 
New  Jersey  National  Guards,  which  was  raised  at  Cape  May.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  health  at  west  Cape  May  and  has  been  actively  inter- 
ested in  the  various  movements  and  measures  calculated  to  prove  of  public 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEIf   JERSEY.  165 

benefit.  He  belongs  to  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church  and  his  upright  life 
has  gained  him  the  regard  and  friendship  of  many  w  ith  wItoui  he  has  come 
in  contact. 


NATHAN  H.  \\'ARRINGTON. 

Nathan  Haines  ^^'arrington  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Swedesboro. 
He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Woolwich  township.  Gloucester  county,  October 
7,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Priscilla  H.  (Brown)  Warrington.  His 
father  came  to  Woolwich  township  about  1818  and  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  there  for  two  or  three  years,  after  which  he  purchased  what  was 
known  as  the  Warrington  Mills.  He  conducted  that  enterprise  for  nearly 
ten  years  and  then  sold  the  property  to  Simeon  Warrington,  the  father  of 
the  present  owner,  Simeon  Warrington,  Jr.  On  disposing  of  the  mill  the 
father  of  our  subject  resumed  farming,  wdiich  he  followed  until  his  death  in 
1875.  ^^  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  his  w'ife,  who  died 
in  1877.  was  seventy-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  In  their  family 
were  thirteen  children,  five  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were  John 
B.,  who  is  now  living  a  retired  life  at  Wolfert  Station.  New  Jersey;  Seth  H., 
who  was  killed  in  Port  Deposit,  New  York,  in  December,  1865,  at  the  age  of 
forty-four  years;  Elizabeth  M.  D..  the  wife  of  Henry  Rockwood,  of  West- 
ville,  New  Jersey;  Margaret  B.,  the  wife  of  Eranklin  ]\Iatlock,  of  Philadel- 
phia; Chalkley  B.,  a  physician  of  Warren  count}-.  New  Jersey:  Louis,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Swedesljoro;  Nathan  H.;  and  Franklin  B..  a  merchant  of 
Swedesboro. 

Nathan  H.  Warrington  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  natixe  town 
and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  1868,  when  he  purchased  a  portion 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  after  his  father's  death  he  Ijought  the  remainder 
of  the  place,  comprising  one  hundred  and  four  acres,  which  he  still  owns. 
He  continued  to  devote  his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits  until  1888, 
when  he  retired  to  private  life  and  removed  to  Swedesboro,  where  he  pur- 
chased his  present  residence,  a  portion  of  which  is  more  than  one  hundred 
years  old. 

On  the  first  of  ]\Iarch,  1866.  Mr.  \\'arrington  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  C.  Parke,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  and  Emily  (Gill)  Parke. 
Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wolfe,  was  the  widow  of  Samuel  Gill 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Parke,  and  is  still  living  in  Philadelphia, 
at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Air.  and  ]\Irs.  ^^'arrington  have  one  child.  May 
H.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Friends  Society,  of  Nickleton.  while  hi*  wife  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Episco])al   church:    and  he  belongs  to  the 


166  BIOGRAl'IIIC.lL    lllsrORY   OF   THIi   I'lk'ST 

S\\c(.lcsl)orci  (Irauge.     Air.  W'arringttm  is  a  Rei)ul)licaii  in  his  ])olitical  affili- 
ations and  has  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of  appeals. 

He  is  a  man  of  sterlins^'  worth,  who  in  .all  the  relations  of  life  has  been 
true  to  duty  and  throughout  the  conimimit)'  where  he  resides  he  enjoy.s  the 
hi"h  reijard  of  his  fellow  men. 


EDWIX  D.  FOSTER. 


E\'erywhere  in  our  land  are  found  men  who  have  worked  their  own 
way  from  huml)le  and  lowly  l)eg"innings  to  i^laces  of  leadership  in  the  com- 
merce, the  great  productive  industries  and  the  management  of  the  veins 
and  arteries  of  the  traffic  and  exchanges  of  the  country.  The  self-made 
man  is  truly  a  product  of  America,  for  in  no  other  land  is  talent,  ambition 
and  energy  entirely  unhampered  by  caste  and  class.  Here,  however,  the 
man  of  resolute  purpose  and  of  honest  intention  may  gain  a  place  in  busi- 
ness circles  which  wins  the  admiration  and  commands  the  respect  of  his 
fellow  men,  and  this  ,]\Ir.  Foster  has  done,  being  now  numliered  among 
the  leading  merchants  of  Cape  May  county.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
large  mercantile  establishment  in  Cape  Alay  Court  House  and  is  accorded 
an  extensi\'e  patronage. 

Mr.  Foster  was  Ijorn  in  the  county  seat  December  16,  1866,  a  son  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Patton)  Foster.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Foster, 
was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Cape  May  Court  House,  and  also  engaged  in 
fish  trade.  He  had  five  children:  William,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
Rachel,  wife  of  Owen  Hancock;  Emma,  the  wife  of  John  Bozorth;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Charles  G.  Linder;  and  John,  who  was  drowned,  together  with 
his  father,  while  they  were  fishing  in  a  sail-boat  off  the  coast  of  Cape  May 
Court  House.  William  Foster  is  a  natixe  of  Cape  May  Court  House,  and 
here  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  followed  the  sea 
for  some  years  and  is  now  connected  with  the  fishing  industries.  He  votes 
with  the  Republican  partv  and  in  religious  faith  is  a  Baptist,  serving  as  a 
deacon  in  the  Fiist  Bajitist  church,  wherein  he  has  filled  the  office  for  some 
years.  He  married  Miss  Patton.  and  their  children  are  as  follows:  Charles, 
who  is  a  carpenter  in  Cape  May  Court  House,  married  Millicent  Hand  and 
has  three  children, — Earl,  .Albert  and  Lewis.  George  P.  married  Lillian 
Spaulding  and  occupies  a  clerical  position  in  the  employ  of  the  Natural 
Gas  Company,  of  Philadelphia:  Linwood,  who  married  Clementine  Hen- 
derson antl  has  a  son.  Henderson,  who  is  engaged  in  the  oyster  business 
in  Dclmont.  Xew  Jersey:  J.  Clement,  a  ])rinter  at  Cape  May  Court  House, 


^yu2yi^U^ry7^   aJ,   J:U^^a2£/fy 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  167 

married  Deljorah  Errickson,  and  they  have  a  son,  Roy;  and  Edwin  and 
Emma  complete  the  family.  The  parents  are  still  living  and  make  their 
home  in  Cape  May  Court  House. 

Mr.  Foster  of  this  review  pursued  the  high-school  course  in  his  native 
to'wn  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1873.  After  leaving  school  he 
learned  the  printer's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  four  years,  on  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  grocery  business.  He 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  general  merchants  in  the  town,  and  has  a  store 
room  twenty-four  by  fifty  feet  well  equipped  with  everything  found  in  a 
first-class  establishment  of  the  kind.  His  business  methods  commend  them- 
selves to  business  men  by  reason  of  their  method  and  to  the  general  public 
l)y  reason  of  their  fairness.  He  is  strictly  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and 
his  courtesy  to  his  patrons  and  his  earnest  desire  to  please  have  secured 
him  a  large  trade. 

On  the  28th  of  February.  1889,  Mr.  Foster  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
Lydia,  daughter  of  James  D.  Richardson,  a  sea  captain  residing  at  Cape 
May  Court  House.  They  now  have  one  child,  Edwin  Dorsev.  Mr.  Foster 
is  a  Republican  in  his  political  connections,  and  keeps  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day.  He  has  held  several  local  ofiices,  discharging  his 
duties  promptly  and  faithfully.  Socially  he  is  a  representative  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  the  success  he  has  achieved  in  life; 
for.  steadily  working  his  way  upward,  overcoming  obstacles  and  difficul- 
ties, he  stands  to-day  the  leading  merchant  of  his  native  city. 


VINCENT  O.  MILLER. 

A  resident  of  South  Dennis,  Vincent  O.  Miller,  was  born  at  Goshen,  Cape 
May  county.  New  Jersey,  May  5,  1852,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
old  families,  whose  members  through  succeeding  generations  have  been  sub- 
stantial and  valued  citizens  of  the  community.  The  first  of  the  name  here 
was  Thomas  Miller,  who  removed  from  Long  Island  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  Town  Bank,  about  1696.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
also  bore  the  name  of  Thomas  Miller.  His  son,  Elijah  Miller,  was  born  at 
Cold  Spring.  Cape  May  county,  obtained  a  common  school  education  and 
devoted  his  energies  to  farming.  Later  he  resided  at  Green  Creek.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  militia  in  the  war  of  1812  and  gave  his  political  sup- 
port to  the  Whig  party.  He  was  a  prominent  and  influential  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  was  earnest  and  active  in  advancing  its  interests.     He 


l68  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

lu-ld  \arious  official  positions  in  tlie  Ta1)ernacle  church  at  Cold  Sprino-  and 
when  his  life's  labors  were  ended  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  church- 
yard there.  He  first  wedded  Phoebe  Smith;  and  their  children  were:  Smith, 
Deborah,  Jonas,  Elizabeth,  Vincent  and  Mary.  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  died  in 
childhood;  Smith  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  Deborah  at  the  age  of 
twenty;  Mary  married  Benajah  Tomlin,  a  sea  captain,  b\-  whom  she  had  the 
following  children:  Smith,  Adelaide,  Elijah,  Enos,  Mary.  Benajah  and 
Naamah.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Elijah  Miller  married  Catharine 
Mclnes  MacNab,  and  they  had  a  daughter,  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Jacob  T.  Price,  a  Methodist  minister  belonging  to  the  New  Jersey  con- 
ference. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  had  several  children,  including  Tenbroeck,  Cath- 
erine, Agnes,  Elijah,  Margaret,  Louis  and  Embury,  the  last  named  a  cele- 
brated divine  now  serving  as  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Yonkers,  New  ^'ork. 

Vincent  Miller,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  November  6,  1812,  at 
Dias  Creek,  Cape  May  county,  obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  engaged  in  farming,  being  the  owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land.  He  also  owned  and  operated  a  fertilizing  manufactory  at  Goshen,  but 
spent  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  Cold  Spring,  where  his  death  occurred 
January  30,  1890.  In  early  life  he  gave  his  support  to  the  Whig  party  and 
afterward  became  identified  with  the  Democracy.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Sons  of  Temperance  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote  prohibition  princi- 
ples. He  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Mary  Cameron,  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia.  Their  children  are  Mar- 
garet C,  the  widow  of  Dr.  George  C.  Carll,  who  died  leaving  three  children: 
Lincoln,  now  deceased;  Mary  and  Helen;  Emily  C,  wife  of  Jesse  D.  Ludlum; 
Phoebe  S.  and  Mary  R.  at  home.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Miller 
married  Priscilla  Buck,  and  they  have  four  children,  the  eldest  being  our  sub- 
ject. The  others  are  Ella,  the  wife  of  William  Tomlin,  a  farmer  of  Goshen,  by 
whom  she  had  three  children, — Millicent,  Helen  and  Mary;  Elijah,  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  New  ^'ork  citv,  who  married  Emily  Cress  and  had  one 
daughter,  Mildred;  and  Belle  A.,  the  wife  of  Albert  J.  Matthews,  of  Cold 
Spring,  a  farmer  and  market  gardener.  The  mother  of  these  children  died 
July  12,  1S97. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Bridgeton  and  in  the  Fort  Edwards  Institute 
'Mv.  Miller,  of  this  re\-iew,  pursued  his  education,  and  when  his  student  life 
was  ended  he  became  a  teacher,  being  employed  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cape  May  county  for  sixteen  years.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  county  schools,  during  which  time  he  resided  on  his  farm  at 
Goshen  and  devoted  part  of  his  time  to  agricultural  ]3ursuits.  In  connection 
with  his  father  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers.     He 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  169 

further  extended  his  field  of  labor  Ijy  dealing  in  cedar  kmiber  and  still  con- 
ducts that  enterprise  in  connection  with  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers  on 
Jones  Creek,  near  Dover,  Delaware.  He  furnishes  employment  to  forty  men 
and  is  conducting  a  successful  and  growing  business. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  1877,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jane  Rice,  the  daughter  of  Learning  M.  Rice,  and  they  now  have  three 
children, — Marcia,  Paulina  and  Mariah  Rice.  The  family  reside  at  South 
Dennis,  where  they  have  made  their  home  for  thirteen  years.  Mr.  Miller 
is  a  member  of  the  Dennisville  Building  &  Loan  Association  and  is  one  of 
its  directors.  He  belongs  to  Cannon  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Dennisville  Lodge, 
No.  130,  K.  of  P.,  and  Friendship  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  at  Cape  May  Court 
House.  He  votes  with  the  Democracy,  was  a  candidate  for  his  district  in 
the  state  legislature  in  1898,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  various  conven- 
tions of  his  party.  The  industrial  concerns  with  which  he  is  connected  have 
brought  to  him  a  gratifying  competence,  and  that  he  occupies  a  leading  posi- 
tion in  business  circles  is  due  to  his  own  well  directed  efforts. 


ISAAC  HURF  WEATHERBY. 

This  prominent  citizen  of  Swedesboro.  who  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  southern  New  Jersey,  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Auburn,  this  state,  October 
16,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Hurf)  \A^eatherby.  His  grand- 
parents, Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Richards)  \\'eatherby,  were  of  Irish  and 
Swedish  origin,  respectively. 

In  the  paternal  family  there  were  seven  children,  concerning  whom  we 
make  the  following  observations:  Edith  married  Walker  Norton,  of  Cam- 
den, New  Jersey;  Ann  Elizabeth  died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years;  Sarah 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Shute,  residing  in  Harrison  township;  Isaac  H.; 
Benjamin  lives  in  Millville,  New  Jersey:  Thomas,  living  in  Logan  township; 
and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Steward,  of  Logan  township.  The  mother 
died  in  1855,  when  only  thirty-eight  years  old,  the  father  surviving  her  until 
1893,  "^vhen  he  passed  away,  at  the  good  old  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

Mr.  Weatherby  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  but  has  added  to  his 
store  of  knowledge,  not  only  by  experience,  but  also  by  constant  reading 
and  studying  upon  the  subjects  in  which  he  is  most  interested.  He  has 
devoted  his  time  chiefly  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has  achieved 
great  success.  In  1894  he  purchased  a  farm  of  nearly  two  hundred  acres  in 
Woolwich  township.  Gloucester  count)',  near  what  is  known  as  the  "Ferry 
Road,"  and  upon  which  he  has  about  fifty  acres  of  fruit  of  all  kinds,  about 


I/O  BIOGR.U'IIIC.U.    IIISTORV   OF   THE   FIRST 

one-fonrtli  Ijcing  lUirltank  ])lums.  The  remainder  of  tlie  land  is  devoted  to 
tlie  s^rowingf  of  "'truck"  products  and  e\erytiiin,<j  tliat  can  Ije  used  on  a 
farm.  In  1877  he  bought  fifty  acres  adjacent  to  Swedeslioro  and  has  since 
resided  there.  He  has  remodeled  and  beautified  the  house  and  lawn  and 
has  added  water  and  heat  and  other  modern  im]irovements.  so  that  now  he 
has  an  almost  ideal  country  home. 

Mr  \\'eatherby  is  of  an  investigating  turn  of  mind  and  was  not  satisfied 
with  simply  taking  up  the  methods  which  had  been  in  vogue  with  agricul- 
turists for  generations,  but  has  done  a  large  amount  of  experimenting  with 
numerous  varieties  of  seeds,  and  in  the  way  of  fertilizing,  starting,  cultivating 
and  harvesting  crops,  as  well  as  in  the  introduction  of  new  products.  While 
he  has  given  much  time  and  money  to  these  experiments,  they  have  not  in 
the  end  been  expensive,  as  they  have  proved  almost  universally  successful. 
Not  only  in  the  growing  but  in  the  marketing  of  farm  produce  Mr.  Weath- 
erby  has  been  of  benefit  to  the  community. 

Mr.  Weatherby  was  married  March  26,  1868,  to  Mary  A.,  a  daughter  of 
William  J.  Young,  of  Philadelphia.  She  died  in  1882,  leaving  three  children: 
William  J.,  a  mining  engineer,  who  is  now  following  his  profession  in  \ew 
Mexico;  and  Laura  and  Mamie  Y.,  who  reside  with  their  father.  ^Ir. 
Weatherby  is  an  Independent  Republican  in  his  political  belief,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  of  the  Heptasophs. 
He  stands  high  in  his  community  as  a  man  of  imusual  aljility.  intellectual 
force  and  great  energy  and  progressi\eness. 


GEORGE  L.  BENNETT. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  'Sir.  Bennett  has  resided  in  Gloucester  county, 
his  home  being  now  in  Logan  township,  on  a  farm  near  Repaupo  and  ad- 
joining the  farm  upon  which  his  birth  occurred  September  11,  1854.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (Lippincott)  Bennett.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  the  mother  when  he  was  twenty- 
one.  The  former  had  three  children  by  his  first  marriage:  and  the  children 
of  his  second  marriage  were  Beulah,  the  wife  of  George  Sharp,  of  Bridge- 
port; Mary,  who  married  William  Mattson,  and  after  his  death  became  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Fowler,  of  Bridgeport:  Tasie,  the  wife  of  Andrew  Mattson.  of 
Bridgeport;  William,  who  is  living  in  Swedesboro:  Sarah,  the  deceased 
wife  of  Levi  Jones,  of  Camden:  Fannie,  the  wife  of  David  B.  Warrington, 
of  Paulsboro.  now  deceased:  Joseph,  a  farmer  of  Woolwich  township: 
George  L.,  of  this  review:  Samuel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twent\-two  vears: 


COXGRESSIOX.il    district   Of   XEW   JERSEY.  171 

Hannah,  the  wife  of  W'iHiam  Slioemaker.  of  Salem:  and  Harriet,  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Cox.  of  Floodgate,  Xew  Jersey. 

George  L.  Bennett,  of  this  re\iew.  is  indehted  to  the  puhlic  school  sys- 
tem for  the  educational  privileges  that  were  afforded  him.  Throughout 
his  life  he  has  followed  farming.  When  very  young  he  hegan  to  assist  in 
the  lahors  of  the  home  farm,  and  in  1898  he  purchased  his  present  property, 
comprising  seventy-eight  acres  of  rich  and  arahle  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  the  well  tilled  fields  yielding  to  him 
a  golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  them. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1875,  Mr.  Bennett  was  married  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Wiltsee.  a  daughter  of  John  Wiltsee,  of  Logan  township.  Tliey  have 
six  children:  Idella  L..  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hewes,  of  Repaupo;  Hannah,  the 
wife  of  Tillman  Frantum  of  Bridgeport,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Emma; 
George  Warner:  J.  Morgan:  Kate  FT.,  and  Charles  W.  Mr.  Bennett  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  is  specially  acti\e  in  support  of  all  meas- 
ures calculated  to  prove  of  general  good.  He  was  for  three  years  a  trustee 
of  the  Repaupo  public  schools,  and  he  does  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
progress  along  social,  material,  educational  and  moral  lines. 


HENRY  JONES. 


Henry  Jones,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Logan  township,  in  Glou- 
cester count\",  was  born  on  the  old  famih'  homestead,  which  he  yet  occupies, 
tirst  opening  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the  24th  of  June,  1852.  He  is 
a  son  of  William  V.  and  Mary  (Sack)  Jones,  who  were  natives  of  Logan 
township,  and  were  of  Swedish  lineage.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  Merbeth  Jones.  There  were  six  children  in  the  family  of  Wil- 
liam Jones,  namely:  Ruth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Batten,  of  Clay- 
ton, New  Jersey,  and  died  on  the  4th  of  May,  1900;  Abram,  a  farmer  of 
Cumberland  county,  this  state:  Levi,  who  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  Camden:  Henry:  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Berkley,  New  Jersey:  and  Wil- 
liam, who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 

Henr)-  Jones,  w  hose  name  introduces  the  initial  paragraph  of  this  review, 
was  educated  in  the  pulilic  schools  of  his  native  town,  was  reared  to  the  occu- 
pation of  farming  and  has  followed  that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life, 
meeting  with  creditalsle  success.  He  now  owns  eighty  acres  of  rich  land. 
which  was  purchased  by  his  father  in  1830,  and  became  the  property  of  the 
present  owner  in  1878.  It  is  divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size,  and  the 
thorough  understanding  of  the  owner  concerning  the  best  methods  of  pro- 


17^ 


BIOGRAPIUC.IL    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


ducint;'  good  crO])s  lias  secured  to  him  a  fair  return  from  tiie  spring  ].)lanting. 
On  the  14th  of  October,  1874,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Jones  and 
Miss  Julia  A.  Zane.  a  daughter  of  William  P.  Zane,  of  W'oolwich  township. 
They  now  have  eight  children:  Le\  i  who  married  Annie  I.ampson  and  has 
a  daughter.  Ethel,  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester 
county;  Mila,  the  wife  of  William  Brown,  a  miller.  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Lampson.  a  farmer  of  Gibbstown,  New  Jersey,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Ellen  and  ^\'illiam;  Lizzie,  Walter,  Clark,  Emma  and  Clinton  are  all 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Jones  has  been  \ery  careful  to  provide  his  children 
with  such  educational  advantages  as  would  tit  them  for  the  practical  and 
responsible  duties  of  life,  and  has  cultivated  in  them  habits  of  industry  and 
economy  that  would  prove  of  great  benefit  to  them  in  later  life.  Since  1873 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  an 
exemplary  follower  of  the  beneficent  and  ennobling  teachings  of  that  fra- 
ternity. He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. Having  always  lived  in  Logan  township,  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
here  and  his  upright  life  has  gained  to  him  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men  in 
an  unusual  degree. 


NATHAN  COZENS  PRICE. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Price  has  been  an  active  factor  in  the  business  inter- 
ests of  Cape  May,  where  he  has  carried  on  contracting,  building  and  survey- 
ing. He  was  born  in  Tuckahoe,  New  Jersey,  March  23,  1828,  a  son  of 
William  and  Mary  Clement  (Abell)  Price.  The  first  of  the  name  of  whom 
we  have  record  was  John  Price,  who  in  colonial  days  came  from  England 
to  the  New  AVorld,  taking  up  his  abode  in  (jood  Luck,  Ocean  county. 
New  Jersey.  He  was  afterward  married  and  had  two  sons,  John  and 
William,  lioth  of  whom  were  members  of  the  militia  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  the  former  serving  with  the  rank  of  major  and  the  latter  as 
a  captain.  They  raised  a  company  and  attacked-  a  company  of  British 
refugees  who  came  ashore  in  Ocean  county,  sending  them  as  prisoners  to 
Trenton  before  the  arrival  of  the  troops  from  W'ashington  who  had  been 
sent  to  Ocean  county  for  that  purpose.  Captain  William  Price  was  a 
direct  ancestor  of  our  subject.  After  the  establishment  of  peace  he  located 
on  ^lorris  river,  in  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  where  he  followed 
his  vocation  of  shi]5-building.  He  owned  pro]iert\'  in  Ca]ie  Mav  count\'. 
and  was  a  very  successful  business  man,  accumulating  a  handsome  com- 
petence. In  1813  he  ])urchased  the  property  now  owned  l)y  the  subject 
of  this  review.     He  married  a  ]\liss  Gibbs.  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  173 

Eduar.l  and  Joseph.      The  former  was  the  s'randfather  of  our  suhject.     A 
native  of  Cumberland  county,  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  early 
hfe.  and  came  to  Cape  May  county,  settling-  on  the  farm  at  Town  Bank 
which  is  now  owned  by  Nathan  C.  Price.     There  he  carried  on  farming 
and  blacksmithing,  his  life  being  one  of  marked  industry  and  enterprise 
His  political  support  was  given  the  Whig  partv.  and  in  religious  faith  he 
was  a  Baptist.     He  had  six  children,  the  eldest  being  John,  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith   of  Swainton.   Cape   May  countv.   who  married   Keziah  Swain 
Deborah,  also  married.    Rebecca  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  vears     William 
was   the  next  of  the  family.      Edward  l,ecame  a  shoemaker  and  married 
Sarah  Barker.     Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Thompson,  a  capitalist 
and  extensive  land-owner,  and  after  his  death  she  wedded  Cornelius  Conard 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 

Wilham  Price,  the  father  of  Nathan  C.  Price,  was  born  in  Cape  May 
county  111  1797,  and  for  fourteen  years  he  sailed  the  sea  as  captain  of  a 
trading  vessel.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  at  Town  Bank.  Cape  May 
county,  where  he  has  passed  the  remainder  of  his  davs.  He  took  consider-  ' 
able  interest  in  political  affairs,  voting  first  with  the  \\h\g  and  afterward 
with  the  Republican  party,  but  he  never  sought  political  ofifice.  An  active 
and  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  he  filled  the  offices 
of  trustee  and  steward,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  cause  of 
Christianity  among  men.  He  contri])uted  liberallv  to  the  building  of 
Tabernacle  church  and  to  the  First  Methodist  church  in  Cape  May  city. 
His  death  occurred  in  1858,  and  the  community  lost  one  of  its  most  valued 
residents. 

Nathan  C.  Price,  his  only  son,  obtained  his  primary  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  afterward  attended  Remmington  Seminary,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  remained  with  his  father 
upon  the  farm  through  the  years  of  his  minorit)-.  and  between  the  ages  of 
seventeen  and  twenty-six  years  he  managed  the  old  home  property^  On 
reaching  man's  estate  he  took  up  surveying,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
While  in  school  he  had  charge  of  the  practical  surveying  work,  and  also  took 
care  of  the  instruments  required  in  the  department.  His  principal  fre- 
quently compHmented  him  upon  his  skill  and  progress  in  surveying,  and 
he  is  now  regarded  as  the  best  authority  in  Cape  May  countv  on  boundary 
surveys  an.l  property  lines.  He  .lid  all  of  the  surveying  work  for  the  tro-lley 
and  short-line  railroads  in  Cape  May  county,  and  has  also  again  and  again 
been  employed  in  the  line  of  his  profession  by  the  village  and  borough  cor- 
porations. In  eariy  life  he  also  studied  civil  engineering,  pursuing  T  home 
course  in  plane  surveying,  geometry,  algebra  and  trigonometry,  ''in  arldi- 


1/4 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


tion  to  liis  other  business  interests  lie  is  enijaged  in  ciintracting  and  liuilil- 
ing,  and  has  erected  a  number  of  houses  and  liarns  in  this  locality  in 
addition  to  his  work  as  a  boat  and  yacht  i)uil<ler.  He  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  1869,  but  has  since  devoted  his  entire  energies  to  other 
departments  of  his  business,  although  he  is  still  the  owner  of  two  farms, 
comprising  three  hundred  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land,  which  yields  to 
him  an  excellent  income.     In  1898  he  served  as  city  engineer  of  Cape  May. 

Mr.  Price  has  been  twice  married.  In  1854  he  wedded  .\bigail  Hand,' 
who  died  in  1856.  Later  Mr.  Price  wedded  Roxanna  H.  Edmunds  (who 
died  October  18,  1899),  and  to  them  were  born  two  sons.  William  C,  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  College,  is  now  a  practicing  attorne\'  and  the  asso- 
ciate editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer.  He  married  Aliss  Caroline  M. 
Hollidav.  and  they  have  one  child,  Marion,  who  is  with  them  in  their 
pleasant  home  in  Philadelphia.  Luther  Cnmmings,  the  younger  son,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  of  the  class  of  1888,  is  also  a 
legal  practitioner,  and  now  assistant  editor  of  the  New  York  Herald. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Price  is  a  Republican,  and  his  fellow  towns- 
men, ajjpreciating  his  worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called  him  to 
public  office.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council,  was  a  meiu- 
ber  of  the  township  committee  of  Lower  townshi]),  and  for  two  years  was 
the  superintendent  of  schools  in  Cape  May  county.  He  holds  a  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  has  tilled  all  of  its  offices,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  its  work.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  diligence  and 
enterprise,  and  his  well  directed  labors  have  lirought  him  success  in  his 
business  affairs. 


OLIVER  GRIMSH.AW,  M.  D. 

.\mong  the  younger  professional  men  of  Gloucester  county  none  has 
attained  a  higher  standard  of  excellence  or  a  greater  degree  of  success  than 
the  physician  who  is  the  subject  of  this  re\iew,  and  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  Swedesboro  ever  since  he  entered  u]5on  his  professional  career. 

Dr.  Grimshaw  was  born  in  Woodstown,  New  Jersey,  December  18,  i860, 
and  is  a  son  of  Hugh  and  Rebecca  (Pierson)  Grimshaw,  both  natives  of 
Gloucester  county  and  of  English  descent.  --\t  an  early  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  country  his  ancestors  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen 
goods  in  Birmingham,  England,  whence  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
removed  to  Gloucester  county  in  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
locating  at  Mullica  Hill,  but  soon  afterward  removing  to  Harrison\i!le. 

When  the  Doctor  was  a  year  old  his  parents  took  up  their  residence  in 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  17- 

Mullica  Hill,  where  he  acquired  a  good  common-school  education.  In  1878 
he  began  teaching  and  for  se\eral  years  followed  that  calling,  in  which  so 
many  of  the  prominent  business  and  professional  men  of  this  land  have  begun 
their  career.  He  subsequently  matriculated  in  Hahnemann  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Philadelphia,  at  which  he  was  graduated  in  1890.  On  the  comple- 
tion of  his  professional  course  of  study  he  located  in  Swedesboro. 

Dr.  Grimshaw  was  married  November  17,  1892,  to  Miss  Mary  Miller 
Ford,  a  daughter  of  George  T.  Ford,  of  Swedesboro.  They  have  two  beauti- 
ful children,  Marion  and  Edith,  and  have  a  charming  home,  m  the  central 
part  of  the  town,— one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  place.  In  politics  the 
Doctor  is  a  Republican,  and  while  not  a  politician  he  takes  an  active  interest 
in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  the 
Swedesboro  district,  and  believes  in  securing  the  very  best  talent  available 
to  train  the  youthful  mind. 


JACOB  HITCHXER.  SR. 

Jacob  Hitchner.  Sr.,  of  Palatine,  New  Jersey,  is  among  the  prosperous 
farmers  of  Salem  county  and  is  a  representative  man  of  his  community.  Mr. 
Hitchner  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  was  born  on  the  same  farm  upon 
which  he  now  lives.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  January  22,  1829.  His 
father's  name  was  Jacob,  and  he  was  born  only  a  half  mile  distant  from  this 
farm  home.  Our  subject  is  a  cousin  of  Judge  R.  M.  Hitchner,  whose  bio- 
graphy appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  subject's  father,  Jacob  Hitch- 
ner. was  a  farmer,  and  served  two  terms  in  the  New  Jersey  legislature.  He 
was  a  stanch,  old-time  Democrat.  He  frequently  held  local  public  positions, 
such  as  school  and  township  offices.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian  and  an 
acceptable  member  of  the  :\Iethodist  church.  He  served  the  church  of  his 
choice  as  trustee  and  steward  nearly  all  of  his  manhood's  days.  At  the  time 
of  the  war  of  181 2  he  started  to  repel  the  British  forces,  going  with  his  com- 
pany to  Billington.  but  they  found  the  enemy  had  not  landed.  He  was  a 
good  farmer  and  highly  successful  in  his  business  operations,  leaving  a  large 
estate.  He  had  many  friends,  but  some  of  these,  whom  he  befriended  by 
endorsing,  betrayed  him  and  he  lost  heavily.  He  lived  to  the  extreme  old 
age  of  ninety-six  years.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Upham  Du  Bois,  the 
family  being  one  of  more  than  common  note.  They  had  ten  children,  three 
of  whom  still  survive:  Mary,  the  wife  of  William  Marshall,  who  is  living 
retired  at  Elmer;  Ann.  the  widow  of  ^^'illiam  Johnson,  of  this  county:  and 
our  subject. 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THfl   FIRST 

Jacob  Hitcliner  received  liis  education  at  the  common  schools,  and  when 
very  young  began  to  work  at  tilhng  the  soil  for  his  livelihood.  He  has  never 
aspired  to  office-holding,  but  has  on  several  occasions  consented  to  serve  as 
township  committeeman,  supervisor  of  roads,  etc.  He  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  tlie  Methodist  church  for  forty-five  years,  during  which  long 
period  he  has  held  most  of  the  ofifices  of  his  church  to  which  a  layman  was 
eligible,  and  is  at  this  time  a  class-leader  and  steward.  He  possesses  a  fine, 
valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  and  keeps  a  fine  grade  of  stock. 

For  his  estimable  companion  he  married  Amy  Cook,  the  daughter  of 
Joseph  Cook,  of  Burlington.  Of  his  four  children  three  are  still  living: 
Damon,  of  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey;  Everett,  at  home;  and  Ralph,  residing 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  paternal  home.  With  a  good  farm,  well  stocked,  also  a 
competency  for  old  age,  and  the  assurance  that  he  has  lived  a  devoted  as  well 
as  a  useful  life,  he  for  whom  we  record  this  notice  may  well  look  back  over 
the  years  of  his  life  and  count  them  well  spent,  for  he  has  made  the  world 
ijetter  for  his  having  lived;  and  now,  as  he  faces  life's  sunset,  he  looks  with 
renewed  assurance  to  the  life  that  is  to  come,  for  the  good  fear  not  to  die. 


JONATHAN  HOUSE. 


Jonathan  House  belongs  to  an  old  and  respected  family  of  Salem,  Salem 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  business  men  of  this 
community.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Frances  (Blackwood)  House  and 
was  born  May  10,  1843,  in  the  little  brick  house  which  had  been  in  the  family 
for  generations  and  which  stands  within  a  stone's  throw  of  his  present  resi- 
dence. This  brick  house  was  the  home  of  his  great-grandfather,  Jacob 
House,  and  has  been  in  the  family  ever  since,  being  now  owned  by  a  brother 
of  our  subject,  Jacob  House.  The  great-grandfather  died  in  this  house 
December  21,  1786,  after  a  life  of  usefulness  and  honor.  He  came  here  as  an 
expert  glass-worker  and  followed  that  trade  for  many  years,  first  being 
employed  in  the  factory  built  by  Mr.  Wistar,  the  first  one  to  operate  in  Salem. 
His  name  was  originally  Houseman,  but  was  contracted  to  House  by  com- 
mon usage  until  it  was  eventually  used  no  other  way.  He  also  engaged  in 
farming  and  with  his  brother,  Jonathan,  fought  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Oakford,  who  was  born  August  5,  1740,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  W'illiam  Oakford,  who  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Alloway 
township,  which  he  purchased  of  the  Fenwick  Colon)-.  The  children  of 
Jacob  House  and  his  wife  were  Anna,  born  April  8,  1763;  Margaret,  born 
January  27,  1768;  William,  born  July  18,  1770;  and  William,  born  November 
27,  1771. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  lyy 

^^'illiam  House,  the  grandfather,  was  horn  January  2"/.  177 1,  in  the  little 
brick  house  which  has  become  almost  historic  from  long  association.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  vocation  and  owned  two  or  three  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Upper  Alloway  Creek  township.  He  held  many  local  offices  and  a  prominent 
place  in  his  neighborhood.  He  w-as  married  on  May  29,  1796,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Wood,  who  was  born  July  14,  1772,  and  bore  him  two  children:  Mary,  who 
was  born  January  2,  1801,  and  is  the  wife  of  \Villiam  Sherron;  and  Jonathan, 
the  father  of  our  subject.  Both  parents  died  earh'  in  life,  and  al)out  the  same 
time,  in  1802,  the  mother,  at  the  age  of  thirt\-,  and  the  father  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three  years.  Their  property  was  left  to  the  two  children,  who  were 
brought  up  by  an  uncle,  James  Woods,  of  Jericho,  this  count}-. 

Jonathan  House,  the  father,  was  bom  September  25,  1798,  on  the  okl 
homestead  and  was  but  a  child  of  four  years  when  his  parents  died.  He 
grew  to  manhood  under  the  kind  care  of  his  uncle  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  sawmilling.  He  built  a  number  of  ships  and  owned  a  large  farm,  where 
he  spent  his  last  days.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  served  on  township  commit- 
tees for  many  years,  was  a  lay-judge  of  Salem  county  and  in  religion  was  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  a  man  w  ho  was  devoted  to  his 
own  fireside  and  was  happiest  in  the  midst  of  his  own  family.  He  paid  close 
attention  to  the  details  of  business  and  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  men 
in  this  section,  and  was  a  go.dly.  Christian  man.  He  married  Miss  Frances 
Blackwood  and  reared  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz: 
William,  who  was  born  in  1822,  was  a  merchant  at  .Vlloway.  where  he  died 
in  his  fifty-eighth  year.  He  married  Elizabeth  Carll  and  had  one  child,  John, 
now'  deceased.  He  was  a  surveyor  and  probably  did  more  work  in  this  line 
than  any  other  man  in  Salem  county.  He  was  college-bred,  possessed  excel- 
lent judgment  and  held  a  number  of  offices,  as  freeholder,  town  clerk,  county 
collector,  and  was  a  very  public  spirited  man.  The  second  child,  Mary  H., 
married  David  Ewen,  of  Alloway.  Ann  was  born  in  1832  and  married 
Edward  White,  deceased,  a  surrogate  of  Cumberland  county  and  a  resident 
of  Bridgeton,  this  state.  They  had  two  children,  Fannie  and  Mary.  Jacol) 
was  the  fourth  child:  and  Jonathan,  the  fifth,  is  our  subject.  The  mother 
died  in  January,  1881. 

Jonathan  House  attended  the  public  schools  of  Alloway  township  and 
Eldridge  Hill,  and  later  entered  a  private  school  at  Shiloh.  .Vt  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  he  left  school  and  engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead 
farm.  He  owns  forty  acres  of  good  farm  land  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  woodland.  He  has  a  fine  orchard  and  a  cider  press  on  the  place, 
where  he  makes  large  quantities  of  cider,  and  also  a  still  for  making  apple 
jack.  He  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  not  been  an  aspirant  for  office,  although 
n— L 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

he  served  as  a  freeholder  one  term.  He  is  a  memlier  of  llie  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Alloway  and  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  the  Home  Guards. 

He  was  married  November  22,  1864.  to  Miss  Elmira  Ayres.  by  whom  he 
has  two  children:  George,  who  married  Rebecca  Fowler,  and  has  one  child, 
Ferron;  he  is  engaged  in  the  canning  business;  and  Frances,  wife  of  J.  W. 
Acton.  Mrs.  House  died  August  10,  1889,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years. 
Her  father  was  Elmer  Ayers,  a  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Margaret  Ayers.  He  was 
born  August  6,  1821,  and  married  Clementia  Payne,  who  bore  him  one 
child,  Elmira,  December  15,  1854,  and  she  married  Mr.  House.  'Sir.  Ayers 
was  a  resident  of  Shiloh,  Cumberland  county,  this  state,  where  he  owned 
several  farms,  which  he  cultivated  and  where  he  died,  in  his  twenty-ninth 
year. 


\MLLIAA1   SYKES. 


William  Sykes,  a  pros])erous  farmer  of  Monroe  township,  Gloucester 
county,  is  a  self-made  man.  one  who  has  hewed  out  a  competence  by  hard, 
honest  toil.  From  his  early  manhood  he  has  been  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  this  county,  and  certainly  has  performed  his  full  share  of  the  labors 
which  have  changed  it  from  a  wilderness  to  a  flourishing,  fruitful  country. 
He  has  just  cause  to  be  proud  of  the  success  which  he  has  achieved  and 
his  neighbors  and  associates  speak  of  him  in  the  highest  terms. 

The  father  of  the  above  named  gentleman  was  Joseph  Sykes,  a  native 
of  Yorkshire,  England.  Unlike  his  ancestors,  who  were  farmers,  he  learned 
the  weavers'  trade,  and  in  the  year  1827  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  worked 
at  his  calling  in  Franklin,  Pennsylvania,  and  at  other  towns.  In  1845  he 
bought  a  farm  near  the  one  now  owned  by  his  son,  our  subject,  and  here 
he  spent  the  declining  years  of  his  life.  He  was  noted  for  his  honesty  and 
industry,  and  to  his  children  he  left  the  heritage  of  an  unblemished  name. 
By  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Grace,  of  England,  he  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
the  following  named  are  living:  \\'illiam  M.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joseph 
Wills,  of  Williamstown;  Henry,  of  California:  Sarah,  wife  of  David  dinger, 
of  Kansas:  and  Joseph,  of  Colorado. 

The  birth  of  William  Sykes  occurred  in  Yorkshire,  England.  May  13, 
1826.  In  his  youth  his  educational  advantages  were  limited,  but  by  read- 
ing and  observation  he  has  become  well  informed.  He  accompanied  the 
family  upon  their  removal  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1852  bought  the 
farm  which  he  still  carries  on.  The  place,  which  is  well  improved  and  de- 
sirable in   every   respect,   comprises  one   hundred   and   seventy   acres,   and 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  lyg 

in  addition  to  owning  tliis  ;)Iace  Mr.  Sykes  has  several  other  small  tracts 
.of  land  and  a  house  and  lot  in  Williamstown.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
raising  hav.  his  land  being  well  adapted  for  this  crop,  and  a  ready  market, 
at  good  prices,  always  being  convenient.  Financiallv,  he  is  an  excellent 
manager,  investing  his  funds  with  rare  foresight  and  sagacity,  and  usually 
has  met  with  success  in  his  ventures.  \\'hen  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Glassboro  was  being  organized  he  became  one  of  the  charter  members, 
and  paid  over  the  first  one  thousand  dollars  toward  that  enterprise,  now 
so  well  known  and  substantial  among  the  banking  institutions  of  the  county. 
In  1848  the  marriage  of  \\'illiam  Sykes  and  Eliza  Barger.  daughter  of 
Jacob  Barger,  of  Philadelphia,  was  solemnized.  After  almost  half  a  cen- 
tury of  happy  wedded  life,  she  was  called  to  the  better  land,  her  death 
occurring  in  1895.  Of  their  eight  children  two  are  deceased,  and  those 
surviving  are  John;  Thirza,  wife  of  Ziba  Brown;  William;  Mary,  wife  of 
William  Miller;  Joseph,  who  is  a  resiflent  of  this  locality:  and  George,  who 
is  living  in  Camden  county.  New  Jersey.  The  four  eldest  children  are 
residing  in  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey.  \\'ithout  exception,  they  are  pros- 
pering and  are  sterling  citizens  of  their  respective  comnnmities. 


CHARLES  H.  TI^IBERMAN. 

Charles  H.  Timberman  is  the  po]5ular  proprietor  of  the  pleasant  country 
home  at  Alloway,  Salem  county,  where  so  manv  summer  boarders  congre- 
gate each  year  to  spend  the  heated  term,  and  he  is  also  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  the  locality.  He  is  a  son  of  Zaccheus  and  Margaret 
(Peterson)  Timberman  and  has  l^een  a  lifelong  resident  of  the  community  in 
which  he  was  born  August  3,  1844. 

The  family  have  lived  at  Alloway  for  generations  and  have  been  among 
the  most  prominent  and  influential  farmers  in  that  \'icinity.  Benjamin  Tim- 
berman, the  grandfather,  was  a  son  of  William  Timberman,  and  like  his 
father,  was  a  farmer.  He  was  married  to  Polly  Budd  and  reared  three  child- 
ren to  years  of  maturity.  They  were  Ann,  who  married  Richard  Nickle; 
Zaccheus,  the  father  of  our  subject;  and  Sarah.  Zaccheus  Timberman  was 
born  in  Alloway  January  24,  1816,  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  became  an  ex- 
tensive land  owner,  having  at  his  death  some  three  hundred  acres  of  fine 
land,  part  of  which  was  co\-ered  b)-  a  splendid  growth  of  timlier.  As  a 
farmer  he  was  most  successful  and  in  the  care  of  stock  was  unexcelled.  He 
castrated  more  colts  than  any  other  man  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey  and  trav- 
eled through  this  state  and  Delaware  for  that  purpose.     He  became  widely 


i8o  lilUCKAI'HlCAL   IIISTORV   Of    THE   FIRST 

known  as  a  sUillfnl  operator.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  aided  in  raising  the 
quota  of  soldiers  from  his  township,  also  served  as  township  committee  and  ' 
was  a  freeholder.  He  was  blessed  with  a  strong,  rugged  constitution,  and 
was  a  man  of  powerful  frame,  weighing  three  hundred  pounds,  notwith- 
standing which  he  was  remarkably  active.  His  outdoor  life  and  temperate 
habits  enabled  him  to  round  out  eighty-two  years  of  life,  and  he  passed 
quietly  away  on  February  8,  1898,  regretted  by  the  many  who  had  known 
and  esteemed  him.  His  wife.  Margaret  (Peterson)  Timberman,  died  in  1871. 
leaving  three  children:  Charles  H.:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles  Hitchner,  of 
Daretown;  and  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Robert  Diamond.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hitchner  ha\e  four  children, — Maggie,  Birdie,  John  and  Geneva. 

Charles  H.  Timberman  received  a  good  conunon-school  education  in 
the  township  schools  anfl  continued  to  help  his  father  on  the  farm  in  Upper 
Creek  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  when  he  conducted  a  farm  for  him- 
self. He  follow^ed  agriculture  for  five  years  and  then  bought  a  farm  upon 
w  hicli  he  resided  three  years,  when  he  purchased  the  property  known  as  the 
ReevesHotel,  where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  also  gives  considerable  attention 
to  farming  and  during  the  summer  months  his  house  is  filled  with  boarders 
who  ap])reciate  the  care  and  attention  gi\-en  to  secure  their  comfort  in  the 
minutest  detail.  The  cool,  comfortable  rooms,  beautiful  scenery  and  whole- 
some, well  prepared  food  have  made  this  one  of  the  favorite  spots  in  southern 
New  Jersey,  in  which  to  pass  a  quiet,  pleasant  summer.  He  also  does  a  great 
deal  of  castrating,  having  become  proficient  in  the  work  under  his  father's  eye 
and  does  most  of  that  kind  of  work  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  has  never  had  the  desire  to  dabble  in  pohtics  to  any  extent.  In 
1869  his  nuptials  with  Miss  Sarah  Smith  were  solemnized.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  David  Smith,  of  Quinton.  They  have  two  children:  Zaccheus 
and  Frank.  Mr.  Timberman  is  a  member  of  the  Newark  Building  &  Loan 
Association. 


RANDOLPH  MARSH. \LL.  M.  D. 

This  well-known  physician  of  Tuckahoe  was  born  in  the  city  which  he 
still  makes  his  home,  June  11,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Randolph  and  Sarah 
H.  (Hughes)  Marshall.  In  Pennington  Seminary  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion and  subsequently  prepared  for  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1877.  He  took  a  special  course  in  obstetrics  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Erdsley  Wallace  and  also  pursued  a  special  course  in  operative  surgery  under 
Dr.  J.  Ewing  Mears.  completing  both  courses  in  the  same  year.     In  these 


CONGRESSIOWIL    DISTRICT   OF   NEJF   JERSEY.  i8i 

lines  he  is  especially  proficient  and  has  gained  a  worthy  reputation  in  con- 
nection with  his  successful  practice  in  those  departments  of  medicine.  He 
also  makes  a  specialty  of  the  diseases  of  children. 

In  1877  he  located  in  Tuckahoe,  where  he  has  since  practiced,  being  asso- 
ciated for  some  time  with  his  brother.  Joseph  C.  Marshall.  In  1878  he 
embarked  in  the  drug  business,  erecting  in  that  year  both  his  store  and  ofifice. 
In  this  branch  he  received  a  liberal  jiatronage  and  for  ten  years  he  has  also 
l)een  financial] v  interested  in  the  drug  business  at  No.  125  Market  street, 
Philadelphia,  which  is  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  C.  H.  Butterworth 
&  Company.  He  is  a  close  student  of  his  profession  and  keei'S  thoroughly 
al)reast  with  the  times  in  connection  with  the  progress  that  is  being  made  in 
medical  circles.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Cape  May  Medical  Society, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  the  treasurer  for  twelve  years  and  is  a  permanent 
delegate  to  the  State  Medical  Society.  He  and  his  brother  were  employed 
as  surgeons  by  the  South  Jersey  Railway  Company  during  the  construction 
of  the  line  in  this  locality.  He  has  made  judicious  investments  of  his  capital 
in  real  estate  in  Ocean  City  and  is  a  member  and  the  treasurer  of  the  Tuck- 
ahoe Building  &  Loan  Association. 

On  the  i8th  of  December,  1879,  Dr.  Marshall  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Rae  Steelman,  a  daughter  of  Anthony  Steelman.  ex-sherift'  of  Cape 
May  county.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  does  all 
in  his  power  to  advance  its  work  and  promote  the  cause  of  Christianity 
among  his  fellow  men.  He  belongs  to  Star  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Tuckahoe; 
Richmond  Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  at  Millville;  and  Olivet  Commandery,  K.  T., 
at  Millville.  He  is  a  meml)er  of  the  American  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
in  which  he  is  serving  as  an  examining  surgeon.  His  life  exemplifies  the  fra-. 
ternal  and  benevolent  spirit  of  these  societies  and  at  all  times  he  commands 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  brethren  of  the  orders.  His  political  sup- 
port is  given  to  the  Republican  ])arty  and  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  its 
success,  keeping  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  although  he  has 
never  sought  ])olitical  preferment. 


BENJAMIN  P.  LAWRENCE. 

In  business  circles  in  Swedesboro  Benjamin  Peart  Lawrence  occupies  an 
enviable  position.  He  is  conducting  a  profitable  business  as  a  dealer  in  lum- 
ber, coal,  lime,  cement,  lath,  shingles  and  other  building  materials,  and  enjoys 
a  liberal  patronage,  which  has  come  to  him  in  recognition  of  his  enterprise 
and  honorable  dealing.     A  native  of  Bridgeport,  he  was  born  <in  the  8th  of 


i82  niOUh'.irHIC.IL   lllSTUliV   01-    THE   J'lRST 

.April,  1849.  anil  is  ilie  ninth  in  order  of  hirth  in  a  family  of  ele\en  children. 
IJis  ])arents  were  Thomas  R  and  Ann  (Barnes)  Lawrence,  nati\es  of  Salem 
connly.  llis  ancestors  were  among-  the  early  settlers  of  that  locality,  and 
Ephraim  Barnes,  the  maternal  grandfather,  also  located  there  at  an  earlv 
day.  Thomas  R.  Lawrence  removed  to  Bridgeport  in  i<S4i  and  purchased  a 
large  farm,  upon  which  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in 
1863.  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  His  wife,  surviving  him  until  1895. 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Their  children  were:  John. 
a  merchant  of  Bridgeport,  who  died  at  the  age  pf  fifty-six  years;  Browning, 
a  farmer  of  Dakota:  George,  who  followed  farming  at  Bridgeport  and  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years:  Alfred. a  produce  merchant  of  Philadelphia;  Thomas 
who  is  living  in  Camden.  Xew  Jersey:  Elijah  \\'..  who  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Newark,  Xew  Jerse\';  Eli.  who  conducted  a  dairy 
business  in  Philadelphia,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fift_\-fi\-e  years;  Anna  E..  who 
is  living  in  Bridgeport,  New  Jersey:  Benjamin  P.;  Barclay,  a  lum!)er  mer- 
chant of  Camden:  and  Horace  W'ilmer,  a  wholesale  dealer  in  Germania  beer 
in  Philadelphia. 

In  the  pul)lic  schools  of  Bridgeport  Air.  Lawrence  obtained  his  prelim- 
inary education,  which  was  supplemented  b_\-  study  in  Jersey  Shore  and  in 
Kennett  Scpiare,  Pennsylvania.  During  his  early  business  career  he  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  still  the  owner  of  the  old  homestead  property 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy-fi\'e  acres,  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  Gloucester 
count}-.  In  1885  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  engaged  in  the  coal, 
feed,  lime  and  cement  business,  but  after  a  year  and  a  half  he  returned  to 
Gloucester  county,  locating  in  Swesdesboro,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
Here  he  has  Ijuilt  up  an  extensive  business  as  a  lumber  merchant,  nor  have 
his  energies  been  confined  to  one  line  of  endeavor,  for  he  is  a  man  of  resource- 
ful ability,  and  his  counsels  and  labors  have  proved  an  important  factor  in  the 
successful  conduct  of  other  interests.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Swedesboro 
National  Bank,  a  director  in  the  Swedesboro  Light.  Heat  &  Power  Com- 
pany, a  member  of  the  directorate  of  the  Lakeside  Land  Company,  and  of 
the  Lake  Park  Cemetery  Company. 

On  the  24th  of  Februar\-,  1885.  Air.  Lawrence  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Alargaret  W.  lirown,  a  daughter  of  John  A.  and  Hannah  (Taylor) 
Brown,  who  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  They  have  three 
children, — Harry  Cooper,  John  Raymond  and  Marion  Henr\%  In  politics 
Mr.  Lawrence  is  independent,  casting  his  ballot  for  the  men  whom  he  be- 
lieves best  ([ualified  for  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  has  served 
as  a  mem!)er  of  the  board  of  education,  but  has  never  sought  jjublic  office. 
He  belongs  to  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  \\'orkmen  and  to  the  I.  O.  H. 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  183 

He  and  his  family  are  memljers  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  Air.  and  IMrs. 
Lawrence  enjoy  a  marked  popularit}-  in  the  commnnity.  having  the  warin 
regard  of  many  friends.  He  is  a  man  of  genial  and  social  natnre.  and  has 
thereby  contrilauted  in  no  small  degree  to  the  sum  of  human  happiness.  Of 
strong  individuality,  of  undisputed  probity,  he  has  attained  a  due  measure  of 
success  in  the  afifairs  of  life,  and  his  influence  has  ever  been  exercised  in  the 
direction  of  the  good  and  the  true. 


HORATIO   H.    CHURCH. 

Prominent  among  the  pilots  of  Cape  May  stands  Horatio  H.  Church, 
who  for  over  two-score  years  has  followed  the  calling  to  which  he  devoted 
a  long  and  systematic  apprenticeship  in  his  early  manhood.  His  family  has 
long  been  identified  with  the  welfare  of  Cape  May  county,  and  many  bearing 
the  name  have  been  numbered  among  the  pilots  and  seafaring  men  of  this 
locality  during  the  century  now  drawing  to  a  close. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Cape  May,  March  22.  1837.  His 
father,  Smith  Church,  was  born  and  reared  in  this  county  and  spent  the 
entire  seventy-two  years  of  his  life  here.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Sarah  Green,  died  when  in  her  eighty-third  3'ear.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  tw^o  daughters,  namely:  Horatio  H.;  Sylvania, 
who  married  S.  \\'.  Reeves,  of  Cape  Alay.  and  became  the  mother  of  three 
sons;  Judith,  who  married  J.  W.  Corson  and  became  the  mother  of  three 
sons;  and  Alexander,  who  sailed  for  the  West  Indies  twenty-five  years  ago, 
when  a  young  man,  and  has  never  been  heard  from. 

After  having  acquired  a  general  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cape 
May,  H.  H.  Church  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  in  fact  has 
been  dependent  upon  himself  almost  exclusively  ever  since  he  was  eleven 
years  of  age.  At  fifteen  he  started  upon  the  task  of  learning  the  duties  of 
a  pilot  in  Delaware  bay  and  after  six  years  of  apprenticeship  he  was  granted 
a  license.  Thus,  since  he  reached  his  majority,  he  has  steadily  pursued  his 
chosen  vocation,  winning  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  dealings. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Delaware  Pilots'  Association  and  the  Delaware 
Pilots'  Society.  Fraternally,  he  is  identified  with  Cape  Island  Lodge.  No. 
30,  F.  &  A.  ]\I.;  the  Heptasophs  and  the  Masonic  Relief  Association.  On 
March  13,  1900,  he  was  elected  city  councilman,  on  the  Prohibition  ticket, 
to  serve  a  term  of  three  years.  Religiously,  he  is  a  Methodist,  and  has  held 
various  offices  in  the  church,  at  present  being  one  of  the  stewards. 

The  marriage  of  H.  H.  Church  and  Miss  Margaret  A.  Rudrow  took  jjlace 


i84  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

in  I'liiladelpliia  (October  22.  1855.  Slie  is  a  daughter  cif  Josepli  and  Mary 
Rudrow,  and  liy  her  marriage  she  ijecame  tlie  mother  of  five  children: 
Mary  O..  the  eldest,  horn  May  n,  1857,  wedded  Charles  B.  Sender  and 
resides  in  Cape  May  city:  their  children  were  named  respectively  Margaret 
and  Richard.  Sarah,  born  J^Iarch  27,  1859,  married  Morris  Cresse,  now  a 
clerk  in  a  wholesale  store  at  Bridgeton:  they  have  one  daughter,  Anna  May. 
Horatio  E.,  born  June  30,  1861,  first  married  Lizzie  Smith,  and  a  daughter, 
Carrie,  was  born  to  them,  and  his  second  wife  was  formerly  Mrs.  Sarah 
Koenig.  Ida,  born  June  18,  1863,  married  William  Fenderson,  now  the 
steward  of  Arlington  Hotel,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  His  only 
child  is  named  for  Mrs.  Fenderson's  youngest  brother,  and  is  a  keen,  pros- 
perous business  man.  Albert  A.,  born  December  22.  1865,  is  employed 
in  the  life  saving  station  at  Cape  May  city.  He  married  Mamie  Ross,  and 
has  three  children, — Leroy,  Ida  and  Norman.  H.  H.  Church  and  wife  are 
highly  honored  members  of  the  community  in  which  they  have  dwelt  so 
long:  their  children,  to  whom  they  gave  excellent  educational  advantages, 
are,  without  exception,  prospering,  and  valued  as  citizens,  and  they  may 
well  feel  that  their  earnest  life  work  has  not  been  in  vain. 


JESSE  S.  STEELMAN. 


Jesse  Surram  Steelman,  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  of  Xew  Jersey 
in  1898  and  re-elected  to  the  assembly  in  1899,  was  born  in  Tuckahoe,  New 
Jersey,  April  21,  1872.  the  son  of  James  and  .\nn  (Surram)  Steelman.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Enoch  Steelman,  was  a  native  of  Tuckahoe,  a  well- 
to-do  farmer,  and  died  there,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren,— Leonard,  Abbie  and  James.  His  father,  also  a  farmer,  lived  most 
of  his  life  in  Tuckahoe.  until  1881,  when  he  removed  to  Millville,  led  a  life 
retired  from  business,  was  a  Democrat  and  held  various  local  offices  in  the 
gift  of  his  party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Of  his  nine  children,  Jesse  S.  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  They  were 
Nathaniel,  Charles,  Samuel,  Rachel,  Jesse,  Emma,  Abbie.  Enoch  and  Anna.. 

Jesse  S.  Steelman  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  Tuckahoe  and 
Millville.  Leaving  school  at  ten  years  of  age.  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Whelock  &  Taylor,  glass-manufacturers,  of  Millville,  as  a  glass-blower, 
an  occupation  which  he  has  since  followed.  .\n  ardent  Republican,  he 
early  entered  politics,  and  at  eighteen  years  he  took  an  active  part  in 
various  county  and  state  conventions  as  a  delegate.  Soon  after  becoming 
of  age  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  nominated  Voorhees,  and 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  185 

a  (leleo-ate  to  the  state  convention  nominating  delegates  to  the  national 
convention  which  nominated  McKinley.  He,  however,  never  sought 
political  office  until  nominated  and  elected  to  the  assembly  in  1898,  against 
H.  C.  Bartlett.  of  Vineland.  His  majority  was  1,800.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1899,  bv  a  majority  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-two 
votes,  against  Abraham  Tice,  of  Milh'ille. — the  largest  majority  received 
by  any  man  on  the  ticket.  While  in  the  legislature  he  has  served,  and  at 
present  is  serving,  upon  important  committees. 

Mr.  Steelman  is  an  active  member  of  the  .\merican  Flint  Glass  Blowers' 
Association  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  for  two  years  represented 
his  local  branch  in  the  national  conventions.  He  is  a  contributing  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


WALTER   T.    LEAHY. 


The  well  known  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  church,  of 
Swedesboro,  is  Rev.  Walter  T.  Leahy,  who  was  born  in  Piermont,  New 
York,  October  30,  i860.  He  obtained  his  early  education  in  the  parochial 
schools  of  Paterson  and  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  began  his  classical  studies 
in  St.  Benedict's  College,  of  Newark,  in  1875.  He  was  graduated  at  St. 
Vincent's  College,  of  Latrobe.  Pennsylvania,  in  1880,  and  for  three  years 
was  the  professor  of  English,  rhetoric,  elocution  and  bookkeeping  in  that 
institution.  He  was  ordained  a  i)riest  in  St.  Mary's  College.  Belmont. 
North  Carolina.  December  19.  1885.  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Pinckney  H.  Northrope. 
bishop  of  Charieston.  South  Carolina,  and  then  became  the  professor  of 
English  and  rhetoric  in  that  college,  and  also  assisted  in  mission  work  in 
North  Carolina.  In  1886  he  accepted  the  principalship  of  the  Catholic  high 
school  of  Richmond.  Virginia,  where  he  remained  for  a  year.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  became  the  professor  of  English,  rhetoric,  book- 
keeping, mathematics  and  Latin  in  St.  Benedict's  College,  while  during 
the  periods  of  vacation  he  assisted  the  Rev.  Father  Glennon  at  Asbury 
Park.  New  Jersey.  In  September.  1892,  he  began  assisting  the  Rev.  Father 
Connolly,  of  St.  Mary's  church,  at  Perth  Amboy.  New  Jersey.  On  the 
28th  of  February,  1893.  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  charge,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  He  is  zealous  in  the  cause  of  Catholicism,  an  able 
speaker,  and  has  wrought  great  improvement,  by  reason  of  his  excellent 
executive  ability  and  deep  human  sympathy,  in  the  Swedesboro  parish  dur- 
ing his  incumbency. 


i86  BIOGRAPHICAL   HlSTOliY   OF   THE   FIRST 

ST.    JOSEPH'S    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

St.  Joseph's  l\onian  Catliolic  cluiich  of  Swedesboro  is  now  one  of  tlie 
largest  and  best  conducted  congregations  of  the  Catholic  church  in  this 
part  of  New  Jersey.  The  Catholics  were  among  the  late  arrivals  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  A  few  Irish  Catholics  came  in  1848  and  for  some  time 
their  religious  wants  were  attended  to  by  the  Rev.  John  McDermot,  of 
St.  Mary's  church.  Salem,  and  his  successors.  Service  was  first  held  in  a 
shanty  which  stood  near  the  present  site  of  Clark's  Hotel:  later  meetings 
were  held  in  the  homes  of  Henry  Boyle  and  \\'illiani  Crowe,  on  the  Ogden 
tract,  and  of  Patrick  Lyons  and  Philip  Creran.  on  the  Woodstown  pike. 
Among  the  first  Catholics  in  this  locality  were  Daniel  Kenny,  George  Blake, 
Michael  Mulkeen,  and  INIichael  Piowe,  who  came  about  1847  and  1848. 
About  1850  there  arrived  in  the  community  Michael  and  William  Costello, 
Martin  and  Michael  Hayes,  Dennis  Lane,  Patrick  Lyons,  Henry  Boyle, 
William  Crowe,  Patrick  Wilson  and  Edward  McAvoy. 

In  1856  the  Rev.  Father  Cannon  became  the  priest  of  the  congregation 
of  Salem,  and,  as  the  number  of  Catholics  about  Swedesboro  increased,  and 
the  houses  became  too  small  to  accommodate  them,  the  question  of  build- 
ing a  church  was  agitated.  There  were  then  about  thirty  families,  but  they 
were  poor  and  scattered,  and  the  raising  of  funds  was  difficult.  Another 
difficulty  that  presented  itself  was  that  no  one  in  Swedesboro  would  sell  a 
lot  for  the  ]nu'i)Ose  of  Ijuilding  a  church,  as  it  was  thought  that  it  would  be 
a  discredit  to  the  town.  Einally  Daniel  Kenny  purchased  the  present  church 
lot  and  transferred  it  to  Eather  Cannon.  When  the  building  was  begun 
threats  w-ere  made  to  destroy  it,  but  the}'  were  never  carried  out  and  it  was 
completed  in  about  a  year,  those  who  could  not  give  money  aiding  by 
their  labors.  The  first  church,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  about  one  hundred 
and  eighty,  was  dedicated  in  1861,  and  it  was  incorporated  in  1864.  with 
William  Hayes  and  James  Brennau  as  trustees,  but  remained  a  mission 
to  the  Salem  church  until  1873,  when  Rev.  Antonio  Cassese  was  ap]Dointed 
the  priest.  In  1880  the  church  was  remodeled  and  enlarged  so  that  its 
seating  capacity  was  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  Ma}%  1881,  it  was  dedi- 
cated. Father  Cassese,  who  was  a  native  of  Palma.  Na^iles,  came  to  America 
in  1887,  was  for  a  time  located  in  Pawtucket,  Rhode  Island,  and  died  in 
Swedesboro  in  1886,  by  which  time  he  had  freed  the  church  from  debt  and 
secured  a  surplus  in  the  treasury.  He  w-as  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  T. 
Tracy,  who  in  1892,  through  Michael  Costello,  purchased  a  new  lot  in  Broad 
street,  on  which  his  successor.  Rev.  Father  Leahy,  removed  the  church  in 
i8q8.     At   this  time  the  edifice   was  asrain   remodeled   and   enlarged   and 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  187 

fitted  out  with  electric  lights,  steam  heat  and  other  modern  improvements 
and  conveniences,  and  it  now  has  a  seating  capacity  of  five  hundred.  The 
church  was  dedicated  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  McFaul,  April  27,  1898.  In 
the  same  year  the  pastoral  residence  was  also  erected  and  is  one  of  the 
finest  homes  in  the  town.  The  congregation  now  numbers  one  hundred  and 
ten  families,  and  under  the  aide  guitlance  of  its  present  pastor  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition. 


SAMUEL   P.   CARPENTER. 

Samuel  Preston  Carpenter  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  Salem,  where  his  handsome  country  home  is  regarded  as  the  most 
beautiful  spot  in  all  the  county.  lie  is  a  product  of  Salem  county,  having 
been  ushered  into  this  life  within  her  boundaries  some  fifty  odd  years  ago. 
his  father  being  the  late  Samuel  Preston  Carpenter,  an  old  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Salem.  He  traces  his  genealogy  back  through  several 
generations  to  one  Samuel  Carpenter,  who  came  to  this  country  with  a 
brother,  Joshua,  in  i68j,  and  is  prominentlv  mentioned  in  the  early  annals 
of  the  province  of  Pennsvh'ania.  Samuel  Carpenter  was  a  warm  friend  of 
William  Penn,  was  ap]Jointed  by  him  to  some  of  the  most  important  offices 
in  the  state,  holding  the  posts  of  treasurer  of  the  province  from  1685  to 
17 14  and  a  memljer  of  the  governor's  council.  \Vhen  the  Friends  estab- 
lished the  public  schools  in  Philadelphia  he  was  made  a  trustee  and  he  was 
also  a  member  of  the  provincial  assembly.  He  was  the  deputy  governor 
during  Markham's  administration,  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
quarter  sessions  and  orphans'  court,  and  was  reputed  at  one  time,  next  to 
Penn,  the  wealthiest  man  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  com- 
missioned a  member  of  Penn's  council,  together  with  Edward  Shippen, 
John  Guest,  \\'illiam  Clark.  Thomas  Story,  Griffith  Owen,  Phineas  Pem- 
berton,  Samuel  Finney,  Caleb  Pusey,  and  John  Blunston. 

The  name  of  Samuel  Carpenter  is  found  heading  the  list  of  common 
councilmen  in  the  first  charter  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  granted  by 
Governor  Thomas  Llo}-d  in  1^)91.  He  was  an  extensive  shipper  and  trader 
and  owned  mills  at  Bristol  and  Chester,  as  well  as  warehouses  and  wharves 
in  Philadelphia.  His  name  is  prominent  in  every  measure  of  importance 
of  that  day,  whether  local  or  national,  and  he  is  thus  eulogized  by  Isaac 
Norris  as  "that  honest  and  valuable  man  whose  industry  and  improvements 
have  been  the  stock  wherein  much  of  the  labors  and  successes  of  this  country 
have  been  grafted."  Samuel  Iving  lived  in  King  (now  Water)  street,  Phila- 
delphia, and  built  the  famous  "Slate-Roof  House,"  an  odd, rambling  structure 


i88  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

wliich  slieltcred  l)encatli  its  roof  manv  a  celeliratcd  cliaracter.  In  tlie  cle- 
scrii)tioii  given  of  this  liouse  we  lind  "ilie  bastions,  so  called,  contained 
neat  little  chambers.  Those  upon  the  first  floor  were  probably  used  for  a 
sitting-  room  or  the  library.  The  second-story  bastion  rooms  were  furnished 
with  odd  little  chimney  i^laces  in  the  corners,  and  the  entrance  to  them 
was  by  steps  from  the  main  second-story  apartment,  so  that  the  occupants 
of  this  ])art  of  the  house  went  down  into  the  chambers.  The  kitchen  was 
made  luqipy  by  an  immense  fire-])lace.  which  occupied  a  space  between 
two  rooms,  being  built  into  a  \'ery  thick  and  wide  chimnew  The  upiier 
stories  were  divided  into  rooms  connected  with  each  other  and  having  odd 
passages.  The  slate  which  covered  the  roof  when  the  house  was  l)uilt  may 
have  been  imported  from  England."  William  Penn,  his  wife  and  daughter 
Letitia  lived  in  this  house  from  January,  1700.  until  November,  170T,  and  it 
was  here  that  John  Penn,  the  only  member  of  the  family  born  in  America. 
was  born.  James  Logan  was  an  inmate  of  the  house,  living  with  tlie  Penn 
family  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  1703.  Here  he  entertained  Lord 
Cornbury  w  hen  he  came  to  this  country'  to  proclaim  Queen  Anne,  and  soon 
after,  in  the  latter  part  of  1703,  the  building  was  purchased  by  William 
Trent  for  eight  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  'Tt  afterward  fell  into  the 
possession  of  Isaac  Norris.  who  li\-ed  in  it  until  he  remo\ed  to  his  country 
seat  at  Fairhill,  in  171 7.  From  171 7  the  house,  although  in  tlie  possession 
of  the  Non-is  family,  seems  to  have  been  occupied  by  many  dififerent  parties. 
Just  prior  to  the  Revolution  Mrs.  Graydon,  better  known  as  "Desdy,"  or 
the  Desdemona  of  the  pert  British  officers  of  the  day,  kept  the  place  as  a 
boarding-house.  About  the  old  house  clusters  many  interesting  anecdotes 
and  associations.  General  Forbes,  the  successor  of  General  Braddock,  died 
in  the  Slate-Roof  House  in  1759,  at  which  time  it  was  ke]3t  by  Airs.  Howyll. 
Baron  DeKalb,  when  visiting  America  as  the  secret  agent  of  France,  lodged 
there  in  1768-69.  Sir  William  Dra|)er,  whom  the  bitter  sarcasm  of  "Junius'" 
has  made  famous,  was  also  one  of  the  guests  who  slept  under  its  roof.  It 
is  also  reported  that  John  Hancock  and  George  Washington  stopped  there 
during  the  session  of  the  first  continental  congress,  while  Baron  Steuben, 
Peter  S.  Duponceau  and  James  Rivington  and  many  others  enjoyed  its 
hospitality  on  various  occasions.  The  Slate-Roof  House  was  at  one  time 
occupied  by  Aladam  Berdeau,  who  kept  a  boarding  school  there,  and  who 
was  reported  to  be  the  widow  of  Sam  Johnson's  Dr.  Dodd,  hung  in  London 
for  forgery  in  1777.  Its  later  history  was  marked  by  less  inspiring  incidents. 
It  became  a  workshop,  a  place  of  business  and  a  tenement  house,  with  shops 
on  the  ground  fioors  for  tailors,  engra\crs.  w.ntchmakers,  silversmiths,  etc. 
A  large,  noisy  ovster  shoj)  was  opened  under  one  of  the  "bastions."     The 


CONGRESSIOX.-IL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  189 

ownership  contiiiue<l  in  the  Xorris  family  down  to  1868,  wlien  it  was  sold 
hy  Sally  Norris  Dickinson,  a  descendant  of  Isaac  Norris.  to  the  Chamijer 
of  Commerce  of  Philadelphia,  which  erected  thereon  the  Corn  Exchange 
building. 

Samuel  Carpenter  was  married  on  tiie  uth  of  January,  1684.  to  Miss 
Hannah  Hardiman.  a  native  of  Haverford,  West  South  Wales,  Great  Britain. 
She  was  born  in  1646  and  came  to  Philadelphia,  where  she  was  an  earnest 
Christian  worker  in  the  Society  of  Friends.  Both  Samuel  and  Hannah 
Carpenter  were  much  beloved  by  their  associates,  and  the  death  of  the 
former  on  .\pril  10,  1714,  called  forth  uni\-ersal  expressions  of  affection  and 
regret.  He  has  six  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  earh-  life.  The  three 
who  grew  to  adult  years  were  Hannah.  Samuel  and  Jolm.  Hannah  married 
William  Fishburn,  who  was  the  mayor  of  Philadelphia  in  1719-20.  Samuel 
was  born  in  Pliiladelphia  on  February  9.  1688,  and  married  Hannah  Preston, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Preston,  who  was  mayor  of  the  city  in  171 1  and 
provincial  treasurer  in  1714,  succeeding  the  elder  Samuel  Carpenter. 
Hannah  Preston  was  of  noble  English  blood,  her  mother,  Rachel,  being  a 
daughter  of  Governor  Thomas  Lloyd,  a  descendant  of  the  ancient  kings  and 
princes  of  England  and  Wales.  A  looking-glass  which  Samuel  Preston 
imported  from  Europe  as  a  wedding  present  for  his  daughter,  Hannah,  is 
a  valued  keepsake  in  the  family  of  Judge  Carpenter,  of  Camden.  Samuel 
Carpenter,  the  second,  was  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia  and  held  a  number 
of  positions  under  the  provincial  go\ernment.  He  had  fi\e  children,  namely: 
Samuel,  a  merchant  of  Jamaica,  where  he  died  in  1747;  Rachel:  Thomas: 
Hannah,  wife  of  Samuel  Shoemaker:  and  Preston. 

Preston  Carpenter,  the  second  son  of  Samuel  Carpenter,  married  Han- 
nah Smith,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hamiah,  and  granddaughter  of  John 
Smith,  of  Hedgefield,  this  county.  He  was  a  man  of  far  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  was  chosen  to  most  of  the  county  offices,  as  judge,  justice, 
commissioner  of  loans,  etc.  He  died  Octolier  jo.  1785.  and  soon  there- 
after the  large  farm  upon  which  he  had  lived  was  sold  and  the  proceeds 
divided  equally  among  his  ten  children.  Some  of  these  children  were 
Hannah,  born  October  4,  1743,  and  twice  married,  first  to  Charles  Ellet,  of 
this  state,  and  the  second  time  to  Jedediah  Allen;  Elizabeth,  born  December 
18,  1748,  married  Ezra  Firth,  of  this  county,  and  one  of  their  grand- 
daughters married  Dr.  Caspar  \Vistar.  the  celebrated  physician:  Thomas, 
born  November  2,  1752,  married  Mary  Tomkins  and  located  at  Carpenter's 
Landing,  Gloucester  county.  Although  he  was  brought  up  in  the  Quaker 
faith  he  took  up  arms  for  his  country  in  1776  and  was  present  at  the  battles 
of  Trenton  and  Princeton.    He  is  said  to  have  loaned  his  overcoat  to  General 


igo  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Mercer  tlic  m'nlit  before  that  Q-eneral  was  killed,  and  aided  in  taking  care 
of  the  wounded  Hessian  general.  Count  Dunop,  at  Red  Banks,  after  the 
battle  of  Princeton.  He  was  of  great  service  to  Washington's  army  when 
they  were  in  winter  quarters  in  !Morristown,  this  state.  He  had  three  chil- 
dren: Samuel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years;  Rachel,  the  youngest, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Edward,  who  was  born  June  4.  1777.  and  died 
at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years.  He  was  a  prominent  glass-manufacturer  in 
Glassboro.  He  married  Miss  Sarah,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  ^^'illiam  Strat- 
ton,  of  Swedesboro.  by  whom  he  has  the  following  children :  Thomas. 
Preston.  James  Stratton  and  Edward.  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Carpenter,  was  born  August  26.  1756.  married  James  Mason 
Woodnut.  and  her  descendants  are  among  the  most  influential  citizens  of 
the  east;  and  Martha,  the  youngest  daughter,  who  married  Joseph  Reeves. 
\Villiam  Carpenter,  son  of  Preston  and  Hannah  Carpenter,  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject. 

Thomas  Preston  Carpenter,  son  of  Edward  and  Sarah,  was  born  April 
19,  1804.  and  married  Rebecca  Hopkins.  He  was  endowed  with  a  liberal 
education,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  and  was  appointed  a  justice 
of  the  supreme  court  of  Xew  Jersey  l)y  Governor  Stratton.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  ot^ce  he  mo\-ed  to  Camden,  where  he  ]:)racticed  law  until 
he  was  called  before  a  higher  tribunal  on  March  2.  1876.  He  was  a 
prominent  memljer  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  was  well  liked  by  all.  His 
widow  survi\-ed  him  many  years.  James  Stratton  Carpenter,  another  son 
of  Edward  and  Sarah,  was  born  October  14,  1807,  and  graduated  as  an 
M.  D.  at  the  Universit}'  of  Pennsylvania,  afterward  completing  his  studies 
in  the  best  schools  of  Paris.  He  was  one  of  the  leachng  physicians  of  Potts- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  January  31.  1872.  His  son,  John  Thomas, 
was  bom  June  27,  1833,  and  graduated  with  first  honors  as  A.  B.  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  and  took  the  degree  of  ]\I.  D.  from  the  same  institution, 
the  Universit}-  of  Pennsylvania,  three  years  later,  in  1855.  He  was  active  as 
a  surgeon  and  medical  director  during  the  civil  war  and  then  located  in 
Pottsville.  where  he  married  Eliza  Hill  and  is  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
popular  physicians.  Edward  Carpenter  was  born  May  17.  1S13.  and  mar- 
ried Anna  M.  Harvey,  of  Pleasant  Meadows.  Gloucester  county.  He  moved 
to  Philadelphia,  where  he  practiced  conveyancing  in  1843.  He  was  a 
prominent  Episcopalian  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Church  of  the 
Mediator  of  that  city.  He  has  five  surviving'  children:  Lewis  Henry  is 
the  director  of  cavalry  in  the  Cavalry  and  Light  Artillery  School  at  Fort 
Riley,  Kansas;  Mary  H.  resides  with  him;  James  Edward,  who  was  a  brave 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  where  he  received  the  rank  of  major  and 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  191 

wliere  his  horse  was  shot  under  him  at  Chancellorsville.  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  legal  profession  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  born  March 
6.  1841;  Thomas  Preston  is  a  prominent  railroad  man  of  Buffalo,  New 
York;  and  Sarah  Caroline,  the  youngest  child,  is  now  Mrs.  Andrew  Wheeler, 
of  Philadelphia. 

William  Carpenter  was  bom  November  i,  1754.  and  attained  a  ripe  old 
age.  The  house  in  which  he  resided  is  still  standing  and  is  now  the  home 
of  the  grandson,  while  he  is  remembered  by  the  older  citizens  as  a  pious, 
upright  man  of  lofty  ideals  and  pure  principles.  He  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Elizabeth  Wyatt  and  his  second  Mary  Redman.  He 
died  in  1836  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  leaving  these  children:  John 
Redman,  who  was  born  in  1804.  was  the  cashier  of  the  branch  bank  of  the 
United  States  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1833.  and 
was  a  young  man  of  rare  promise;  Samuel  Preston  was  the  father  of  our 
subject;  William,  born  in  1802,  married  first  Mary  Scott  and  secondly 
Phoebe  Warren.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Mannington  township,  but  retired  to 
Salem  a  few  years  before  death  in  1889.  Rachel  married  Charles  Sheppard. 
a  merchant  of  this  city  and  Philadelphia,  but  later  retired.  They  had  two 
children. — William  C.  and  John  R.  C. 

Samuel  Preston  Carpenter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  January 
26,  1812,  in  Mannington  township,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Samuel.  He  received  a  limited  education  in  the  little  red  school-house  in 
this  township,  and  added  to  the  fund  of  information  thus  obtained  by  read- 
ing and  observation  until  he  became  one  of  the  most  intelligent  men  of  his 
day,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  respected.  He  followed  the  occupation  of 
agriculture  and  was  highly  successful.  He  was  a  Republican  and  during 
the  troublous  times  of  African  bondage  took  a  very  decided  stand  against 
the  institutions  of  slavery.  He  was  one  of  its  strongest  opponents  and 
expressed  himself  in  no  unmeasured  terms  on  the  question,  and  also  gave 
it  his  earnest  support  in  every  way  available.  He  was  a  supporter  of  John 
C.  Fremont  and  a  prominent  man  of  his  county,  holding  all  the  township 
offices  and  was  surrogate  of  the  county  at  one  time.  In  religion  he  be- 
longed to  the  orthodox  Society  of  Friends,  connected  with  the  Salem  meet- 
ing, and  was  a  conscientious,  upright  citizen.  He  was  twice  married, — 
first  to  Hannah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  Acton,  and  secondly  to 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  R.  Sheppard.  His  children  are  as  follows: 
John  R.,  who  was  born  August  22,  1838,  and  is  in  the  ice  business  in  Phila- 
delphia, married  Mary  C.  Thompson  and  has  two  children:  Samuel  Preston, 
who  was  born  August  31.  1864.  and  married  Lillie  Morse;  and  Elizabeth 
W.,  who  lives  at  home.    Sarah  W.,  born  July  22,  1842,  married  Richard  H. 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Reeve,  a  resident  of  ("aiiulen  who  was  formerly  an  oil-clotli  manufacturer. 
They  have  one  son.  Augustus  H.,  who  married  Madge  Baldwin  and  has  two 
children, — Catherine  and  Augustus  H.  S.  Preston,  our  subject,  married 
Rebecca  B.  Bassett.  William,  born  August  7,  1849,  is  a  large  stock-raiser 
and  is  also  engaged  with  Reeve  &  Parvin,  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  grocery 
Intsiness.  He  married  Lizzie  Lambert,  who  died  in  April,  1890.  Mary  R.. 
born  December  15,  1857.  married  Benjamin  C.  Reeve,  an  oil-cloth  manu- 
facturer of  Camden,  has  two  children, — Rachel  C.  and  Herbert.  The  father 
died  August  23,  1897,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years;  and  his  wife  July 
31,  1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Among  their  most  treasured  relics  was 
an  original  portrait  of  Samuel  Carpenter,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America. 

Samuel  Preston  Carpenter  attended  the  public  schools  of  Salem  in  his 
younger  years,  then  entered  the  West  Town  Boarding  School  and  later 
Haverford  College.  Farm,  life  was  to  him  the  ideal  one.  and  when  his 
schooling  was  completed  he  returned  to  the  farm  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  that  industry  on  the  old  homestead.  Here  he  owns  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres  of  fine  land,  besides  a  large  meadow  which  is  devoted 
to  grazing  his  herd  of  twenty  Jerseys.  He  does  a  general  farm  business,  but 
also  finds  no  small  profit  in  his  cows,  which  are  among  the  best  in  the  state 
and  yield  a  rich  per  cent  of  butter  fat.  He  is  one  of  those  enterprising  farmers 
who  have  done  much  to  ele\ate  life  in  the  country  by  bringing  to  it  the 
comforts  and  luxuries  which  really  belong  there,  but  which  are  in  so  many 
cases  denied  it  and  drive  the  ambitious  but  comfort-loving  youth  to  the 
cities,  where  after  all  disappointment  often  awaits  them.  His  residence  was 
constructed  with  a  view  to  securing  convenience  and  luxury,  and  was  sup- 
plied with  both  hot  and  cold  water  and  other  appliances  of  modern  art. 
It  is  a  model  country  residence  and  af-fords  its  occupants  much  satisfaction 
and  pleasure. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  married  February  24,  1870,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Bassett, 
who  has  presented  him  with  one  child,  a  son,  Benjamin  Acton,  who  was 
born  April  16,  1877,  and  is  now  traveling  through  the  western  states. 


ISAAC    \V.    DAWSON. 


The  records  of  the  lives  of  our  forefathers  are  of  interest  to  the  modern 
citizen,  not  alone  for  their  historic  value,  but  also  for  the  inspiration  and 
example  they  afford;  yet  we  need  not  look  exclusively  to  the  past.  Although 
surroundings  mav  differ,  the  essential  conditions  of  human  life  are  the  same. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  193 

and  a  man  can  learn  from  the  success  of  those  around  him  if  he  will  heed 
the  lessons   contained   in  their   history.      Turn  to   the   life   record  of   :\Ir. 
Dawson,  study  carefully  the  methods  he  has  followed,  and  you  will  learn  of 
executive  ability  of  high  order.     He  started  out  in  life  without  means  other 
than  those  with  which  nature  endowed  him  and  by  his  own  efforts  and 
determined  purpose  and  laudable  ambition  he  has  risen  to  a  leading  place 
among  the  representatives  of  the  business  interests  in  eastern  New  Jersey. 
Mr.  Dawson  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (White)  Dawson,  and 
was  born  near  Pennsville.  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  Salem  county.  New 
Jersey,  September  2.   1845.     His  grandfather,  Francis  Dawson,  was' born 
near   Pennsville   in    1799,   and   removed   to   Mannington   township,   Salem 
county,  where  throughout  his  life  he  followed  farming,  becoming  the  owner 
of  an  extensive  tract  of  land.     In  early  life  he  gave  hi^s  support  to  the  Whig 
party,  and  on  its  dissolution  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party.     He 
held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  life  was  up- 
right and  honorable.    At  the  age  of  sixty-one  years  he  was  called  to  his  final 
rest,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.     She  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Biddle,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  namely:     Jonathan,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
eldest;  Samuel  was  twice  married,  and  by  the  first  union  had  a  daughter, 
]Mary   Elizabeth,   while  by  his  second  wife,  Angehne  Armstrong,  he  had 
three  children.— Charles,  Sarah  Jane  and  William,— whom  he  reared  upon 
his  farm  in  Cape  May  county;  Mary  Ann  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Calla- 
han, a  farmer  residing  near  Alloway,  Salem  county,  by  whom  she  had  twelve 
children;    George  was  a  farmer  of  Salem  county,  married  and  had  a  large 
family;  Hannah  became  the  wife  of  J.  Cerlin,  a  wealthy  farmer  of  Manning- 
ton  township,  Salem  county.  l)y  whom  she  had  three  children,  Samuel,  Mary 
and  Genevie;  John  also  an  agriculturist  of  Alannington  township,  wedded 
Mary  Fowler,  and  had  one  child,  Howard;  and  Francis,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  married  Ann  Baker  and  had  one  child,  Leslie;  he  made  frrming  his 
life  work. 

Jonathan  Dawson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Lower  Penn's 
Neck  township.  Salem  county,  in  1821,  and  in  that  locality  and  Stow  Creek 
township.  Cumberland  county,  he  followed  farming  throughout  his  entire 
life.  In  the  latter  place  he  owned  two  farms  and  became  a  man  of  consider- 
able wealth.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  served  as  surveyor  of  highways, 
and  was  an  official  member  of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  and  a  zealous 
worker  in  its  interests.  In  early  manhood  he  wedded  Hannah  White  and 
four  children  blessed  their  union,  the  eldest  being  Isaac  \^^  George  M.,  a 
farmer  of  Stow  Creek  township,  Cumberland  county,  married  and  had  a 


II— M 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

daughter,  Ella.  Theodore  wedded  i\Iary  Sniick  and  had  one  child,  Sylvester. 
Hannah  W.  became  the  wife  of  Richard  West,  a  blacksmith  and  farmer  of 
Cnmberland.  New  Jerse_\',  and  their  children  are  Laura  Emma,  Carrie  and 
Jonathan.  The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  December  6.  1898,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Salem  county  Isaac  W.  Dawson  acquired  his 
])reliniinary  education,  which  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the  West  Jersey 
Academy  at  Bridgeton.  He  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  for  two  terms, 
and  then  continued  his  own  education,  being  graduated  at  Pennington  Sem- 
inary in  1869.  He  then  prepared  to  enter  a  college  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  but  his 
health  failed  him  and  forced  him  to  abandon  that  plan.  He  became  a  local 
minister  of  the  Methodist  E])iscopal  church,  however,  and  at  various  times 
has  performed  active  service  in  the  ministry.  He  taught  school  in  Eldora, 
Cape  May  county,  and  after  his  marriage  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
cultivating  the  land  upon  which  he  yet  resides. 

In  1890  he  established  a  general  mercantile  store  in  Eldora,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  town,  which 
largely  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  In  1892  he  secured 
the  establishment  of  the  post  otTice  there,  gave  it  the  name  of  Eldora,  was 
appointed  postmaster,  and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity.  In  1893  he 
erected  the  Eldora  Canning  Factory,  which  is  conducted  under  the  linn 
name  of  I.  W.  Dawson  &  Son,  and  which  has  a  capacity  of  five  hundred  tlimi- 
sand  cans  of  tomatoes  annually.  Work  is  furnished  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  employes  in  this  factory,  and  its  products  are  shipped  to  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  other  cities.  He  is  also  quite  extensively  connected 
with  the  export  trade,  and  the  volume  of  his  business  has  made  the  canning 
factory  one  of  the  leading  industries  in  this  section  of  the  state.  It  is  said 
that  the  man  who  weekly  pays  from  his  counters  a  large  force  of  employes 
does  more  for  the  race  than  he  who  leads  an  armed  host  forth  to  battle,  for 
he  furnishes  the  means  of  maintaining  instead  of  destroying  life;  he  jiro- 
motes  commercial  activity  and  encourages  that  industry  wdiich  is  the  safe- 
guard of  the  American  citizen  and  has  made  this  country  one  of  the  leading 
commercial  nations  of  the  world. 

In  November,  1871,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Dawson  aufl  Miss 
Emma  Goff,  a  daughter  of  David  Gofi,  and  their  children  are  David  G.  and 
Daniel  Witham.  The  former  was  born  in  July,  1872,  married  Jennie  Chris- 
tian and  is  now-  associated  with  his  father  in  the  canning  business.  The 
younger  son  is  a  student  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Dawson  belongs  to  the  Alpha  Omega,  a  college  fraternity  of  Penning- 
ton Seminarv.     He  now  serves  as  a  commissioner  of  deeds,  and  at  all  times 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  195 

is  deeply  interested  in  \vliate\'er  pertains  to  the  progress.  n])l)uilding  and 
welfare  of  his  county  and  state.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He 
has  been  a  life-long  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  frequently 
preaches  on  Sunday,  and  has  occupied  the  pulpit  as  many  as  three  limes  on 
that  day.  His  ill  health,  however.  pre\ents  him  from  continualh'  serving 
in  that  way.  He  has  held  all  the  official  ]30sitions  in  the  church  in  Dennis- 
ville.  and  he  is  ambitious,  active  and  earnest  in  promoting  its  welfare  and 
work.  Probably  the  chief  element  in  his  success  is  his  power  of  management 
and  in  the  control  of  his  extensive  business  operations  he  has  won  a  capital 
which  numbers  him  among  the  wealthy  residents  of  his  communitv.  His 
business  methods  have  at  all  times  been  unassailable,  and  so  honorable  has 
Ijeen  his  career  that  it  may  well  serve  as  a  source  of  inspiration  and  stand  as 
an  example  to  the  young. 


THOMAS  ELDREDGE. 


This  worthy  representative  of  the  Eldredge  family  is  a  resident  of  Cape 
May  county,  and  for  the  most  part  has  led  a  seafaring  life.  He  is  known 
far  and  near,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  every  one,  as  has  been  the  case  with 
each  member  of  the  family,  past  and  present.  His  grandfather,  William 
Eldredge,  who  came  to  this  vicinty  from  Long  Island,  New  York,  when  a 
youth,  became  a  pilot  on  Delaware  Bay,  and  since  that  time  manv  of  his 
descendants  have  chosen  and  followed  the  same  calling.  Tluis  trained  from 
early  years,  and  made  thoroughly  familiar  with  this  peculiarlv  dangerous 
portion  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  their  services  have  been  invaluable  to  the  mul- 
titudes of  ships  which  annually  pass  this  way. 

Thomas  Eldredge,  of  this  sketch,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Deborah 
(Ware)  Eldredge,  the  former  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1S12,  and  for  all  of  his 
life  a  resident  of  Cape  May  and  Cold  Spring.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  died  strong  in  the  Christian  faith,  when  in  his 
fifty-third  year.    His  widow  attained  the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  West  Cape  May,  April  2.  1835,  and 
in  his  boyhood  he  was  a  pupil  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  Sub- 
sequently he  commenced  a  long  apprenticeship  ti)  the  pilot's  business,  and  at 
the  end  of  seven  years  was  deemed  sufficiently  well  ])osted  to  be  granted  a 
pilot's  license.  This  calling  he  continues  to  follow,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
there  is  no  more  popular  member  of  the  Delaware  Pilots'  Association  or  of 
the  Delaware  Pilots'  Society,  to  both  of  which  organizations  he  belongs. 
Besides,  he  is  an  honored  member  of  the  lnde]iendent  Order  of  Heptasophs, 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Cape  Island  Lodge.  No.  130.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  lo  the  chapter  of  R.  A.  M.. 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Relief  Association.  I-'or  a  number  of  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Cold  Spring,  and 
is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  chapel  at  West  Cape  May. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1858,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Kldredge  and  Miss 
Emma  T.  C.  Baker,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Baker,  a  Delaware  bay  pilot,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  celebrated.  The  second  child  of  our  subject  and  wife  was 
Harry  S.  Eldredge,  whose  bright,  promising  life  came  to  an  untimely  end 
on  the  1 2th  of  March.  1888,  during  the  terrible  storm  which  swept  this  coast. 
Like  his  forefathers  and  relatives,  he  had  mastered  the  pilot's  business,  and 
it  so  happened  that  he  was  the  only  Delaware  pilot  lost  during  that  gale.  He 
left  a  young  wife,  Lida  (Van  Winkle)  Eldredge,  and  a  host  of  sincere  friends 
who  deeply  mourn  his  loss.  Harriet  S.,  the  eldest  daughter  of  our  subject, 
became  the  wife  of  Daniel  E.  Stevens,  a  Delaware  pilot,  and  resides  at  Cape 
May.  Their  son  Harry  is  now  a  student  at  Bellefonte  College,  Belle- 
fontc.  Pennsylvania;  and  Ida,  the  daughter,  is  attending  school  at  Cape 
May.  Eliza  K.,  the  third  child  of  our  subject,  is  the  wife  of  William  R.  Shep- 
pard.  who  has  retired  from  business  activities  and  makes  his  home  at  Cape 
May.  Thomas,  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  (a  gold-beater  by  trade),  chose 
Elizabeth  Parsons,  of  Millville,  New  Jersey,  for  a  wife  and  they  have  one 
child,  William  Leone  by  name.  Emma  T.,  the  yoimgest,  is  with  her  parents 
at  home.  All  of  our  subject's  children  were  given  good  educational  advan- 
tages, a  credit  to  their  family  and  to  the  community  in  which  they  reside. 


EDWARD  NORTH.  M.  D. 

In  the  list  of  leading  surgeons  of  southern  New  Jersey  one  name  must 
stand  conspicuous,  that  of  Edward  North.  He  came  of  a  medical  family, 
his  father  and  three  brothers  having  recei\ed  a  medical  education.  His 
father,  Dr.  Joseph  H.  North,  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (McKechnie)  North, 
was  born  in  Augusta,  Maine,  about  1812.  He  was  of  English  and  Scotch 
lineage,  the  North  family  having  long  been  prominent  in  England  and 
entitled  to  bear  arms  as  nobles.  The  noted  Lord  North  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary period  was  a  representative  of  the  English  branch.  Joseph  H. 
North  was  educated  in  Bowdoin  College,  Brunswick,  Maine,  at  the  time 
tlie  present  chief  justice  of  the  United  States,  Melville  W.  Fuller,  was  a 
student  there,  and  was  graduated  in  that  institution  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  He  practiced  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  what  is  now  Oak- 
land, Maine,  then  West  W'aterville.  where  he  established  a  large  practice. 


m^^cy('^/^^^^'2?^ 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   Of   XEIV  JERSEY.  197 

In  1858  he  came  to  Hammonton.  Xew  Jersey,  wliich  was  liis  home  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  July.  1894.  when  he  was  eight v-t wo  years  of 
age.  Here  he  was  in  j^-actice  until  after  his  son  Edward's  graduation, 
when  he  retired  and  engaged  in  large  real-estate'  transactions.  He  pos- 
sessed great  hrilliancy  and  had  many  friends  who  enjoyed  his  society  and 
the  quaint  stories  he  delighted  to  tell.  He  was  a  liheral  in  religion,  inclin- 
ing in  later  life  to  the  "Spirituar"  philosophy.  His  wife.  Eliza  Hall  (Under- 
wood) North,  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  and  Afary  (Aiken)  Underwood, 
of  Maine,  survived  him  three  years,  dying  in  July,  1896.  She  was  a  woman 
of  great  strength  of  character,  sound  judgment  and  calm  deliheration. 
Their  children  were  Edward,  deceased:  Joseph  H..  a  physician  of  Pleasant- 
ville.  New  Jersey;  Mary  J.,  now  ]\Irs.  F.  R.  Morse:  Hannah  F.,  the  wife 
of  Cyrus  F.  Osgood;  Eliza  U..  now  Mrs.  John  Hall;  James,  a  physician 
and  dentist  of  Atlantic  City;  and  \\'illiam  McK.  North,  M.  D..  of  Ham- 
monton. 

Dr.  Edward  North,  the  eldest  son  of  the  ahove  worthy  couple,  was 
i)orn  at  West  W'aterville.  Maine.  July  29.  1841.  From  early  life  his  aspira- 
tions were  for  medicine,  and  he  was  thoroughly  titted  for  this  profession 
at  Jefferson  Aledical  College.  Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania,  in  which  noted 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  1868  at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  had 
received  a  fitting  preparation  for  his  professional  studies  by  service  as  nurse 
in  the  United  States  Military  Hospital  at  Washington,  D.  C.  during  the  civil 
war.  Immediately  upon  graduation  Dr.  North  commenced  practice  in  Ham- 
monton, New  Jersey,  and  for  thirty  years  was,  with  the  exception  of  three 
years,  in  active  and  successful  practice  at  that  place  until  the  fateful  night  of 
February  11,  1899,  when,  driving  to  see  a  patient,  he  was  killed  by  a  railroad 
train  within  a  mile  of  home,  in  the  full  flush  of  manhood  and  in  the  midst  of 
a  remarkable  professional  career.  In  1870  he  was  in  practice  at  Jeft'erson, 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1880  he  located  for  two  years  in  Augusta  count)-.  West 
Virginia,  as  a  surgeon  for  a  large  mining  company.  Aside  from  these 
absences  his  whole  professional  life  was  passed  in  southern  New  Jersey. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Atlantic  Medical  .Association  bear  this  testi- 
monial to  his  worth  and  abilities,  and  tell  the  story  of  the  results  of  his 
life  better  than  any  ^yords  of  ours.  We  quote  as  follows:  "As  a  successful 
physician  Dr.  North  stood  high  among  his  brethren,  and  as  a  skilled  surgeon 
he  had  few  ecpials  outside  the  large  cities,  his  ability  being  hounded  only 
by  opportunity,  as  he  hesitated  at  no  operation  however  difficult  or  dan- 
gerous it  might  be.  and  his  knowledge  and  skill  generally  brought  his 
patient  successfully  through  the  ordeal.  In  many  cases  his  services  were 
gratuitous,   necessitating   also   an   expense   of  costly   instruments  and   the 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

breaking"  clown  of  the  opposition  to  the  performing  of  serious  operations 
by  country  practitioners  so  often  fostered  Ijy  the  operators  in  liospitals  and 
colleges.  The  long  list  of  his  surgical  operations,  including  difficult  ampu- 
tations, tracheotomx',  lithotomy,  strabotomy.  removal  of  the  uterus  and 
operations  for  Indrucele.  \'aricocele.  cataract,  etc..  etc..  attest  to  his  skill 
and  nerve,  and  can  be  a])])reciatcd  by  his  brethren  who  know  the  obstacles 
under  which  he  labored  from  the  lack  of  hospital  facilities  and  skilled  as- 
sistants, which  add  so  much  to  the  fame  of  city  surgeons. 

"Dr.  Xorth  was  a  memlier  of  this  (Atlantic  County)  Medical  Sociel}-. 
and  a  contributor  of  pajiers  of  special  interest.  He  held  the  office  of  its 
president  in  1883,  presided  with  dignity  over  its  deliberations,  was  often 
appointed  on  its  most  important  committees  and  was  its  delegate  in  state 
and  national  conventions,  ever  having  at  heart  its  interests,  as  also  the 
success  of  the  profession  at  large.  He  contributed  articles  to  medical 
journals  and  to  Gross's  Svstem  of  Surgerw  in  which  some  of  his  cases  are 
cited. 

"Dr.  Xorth  was  an  industrious  student,  careful  and  painstaking,  and 
kept  full}'  abreast  with  the  adxancement  of  medical  progress  and  was 
familiar  with  the  latest  modes  and  ad\ances  of  treatment.  His  medical 
librarw  an  extensixe  and  expensi\'e  one,  co\ered  all  subjects  of  interest  to 
the  physician,  the  surgeon,  and  the  man  whose  life  is  devoted  to  the  welfare 
of  suffering  humanity. 

"Dr,  North's  record  as  a  politician  was  remarkably  clean.  He  held  the 
respect  of  the  opposition  as  well  as  that  of  his  own  party,  which  honored 
him  with  offices.  He  represented  the  Republican  party  of  Atlantic  county  for 
years,  as  the  chairman  of  the  county  committee,  as  coroner,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  assembly  in  1884-5.  His  interest  in  Hammonton  and  the  respect 
in  which  he  was  held  was  made  manifest  in  his  election  year  after  year  to 
important  town  offices,  as  councilman  and  a  member  of  the  school  board. 

"Dr.  North  was  prominent  in  Freemasonry,  and  had  attained  to  the 
thirty-second  degree  in  that  fraternity.  He  was  a  ])ast  master  of  M.  B. 
Taylor  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Hammonton.  and  held  memljership  in  various 
other  brotherhood  organizations." 

Dr.  Xorth  was  married  in  November,  1863,  to  Emma  Paul,  whose 
parents,  George  W.  and  Barbara  A.  Paul,  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Hammonton.  She  was  a  birthright  Quaker  and  her  grandfather,  Dri\id 
Paul,  was  long  a  prominent  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  She  died  June  4, 
1896.  leaving  three  daughters.  Grace,  the  wife  of  O.  J.  Hummell,  of  Atlantic 
City;  Gertrude,  the  wife  of  B.  B.  Filer,  of  Philadelphia:  and  Edna  V.  Xnrth. 
On  the  28th  of  July.  1897.  occurred  his  second  marriage,  to  ]Miss  Evelyn 


CONGRESSIOXJL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  199 

C.  Gravath,  of  New  Egypt,  New  Jersey,  who  survives  him.  In  addition 
to  the  alcove  it  should  he  added  that  in  ah  the  relations  of  life  Dr.  North 
was  a  strong  man  of  great  individuality  and  power  who.  while  in  the  sick 
room  or  at  the  operating  taljle.  was  silent,  self-restrained  and  cool,  yet  in 
the  same  circle  or  in  the  circle  of  intimate  friends  was  light,  cheery  and 
gay.  In  the  atmosphere  of  home  he  found  his  highest  enjoyment.  His 
memory  is  cherished  as  a  leading  medical  man,  a  citizen  of  wise  judgment, 
official  honor  and  rectitude,  and  a  man  of  the  highest  elements  of  character. 


GEORGE  W.  DORRELL. 

George  \\'.  Dorrell.  a  merchant  and  hutcher  of  AUoway,  Salem  county, 
is  a  son  of  Daniel  P.  and  Rebecca  Mary  (Mcllvain)  Dorrell.  and  was  born 
in  this  township  December  31,  1858.  He  traces  his  genealogy  back  through 
several  generations  to  one  \^'illiam  Dorrell.  whose  residence  was  the  brick 
house  now  owned  by  Jacob  House.  He  was  a  farmer,  as  was  his  son,  John, 
and  his  grandson,  Annas,  all  of  whom  were  among  the  most  highly  respected 
and  enterprising  residents  of  this  county.  Annas  Dorrell  was  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  and  was  a  man  of  brain,  who  had  made  the  most  of  his 
advantages,  cultivating  his  mind,  which  was  devoid  of  all  schooling,  until 
he  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  intelligent  men  of  his  day.  He  resided  at 
Harmony  and  for  a  short  time  was  in  the  butcher  business,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  being  a  strong  Republican.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Sarah  Peim.  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  namely:  Sarah, 
deceased;  Daniel  P.,  the  father  of  our  subject:  Hannah,  the  wife  of  "Sc|uire 
B.  M.  Ferguson,  retired:  ]\Iary  (Mrs.  Jacob  Danley).  of  Bryn  Mawr.  Penn- 
sylvania; and  two  children,  twins,  that  died  in  infancy.  His  second  wife  was 
Rebecca  Perry,  and  the  children  born  to  them  were  Rhoda,  Rebecca,  Susan, 
Joseph,  Sallie,  and  an  infant,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead  but  Joseph  and 
Daniel.  Annas  Dorrell  died  in  his  forty-seventh  year,  and  his  wife  in  her 
thirty-third. 

Daniel  P.  Dorrell  was  born  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township  January 
I,  1826,  and  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  early  learning  habits  of  industry 
and  thrift  that  have  laid  the  foundation  for  his  future  success.  His  education 
consisted  of  about  two  years'  attendance  at  the  district  school  and  this  was 
supplemented  by  a  course  of  reading  and  close  observation,  which  has  proved 
of  much  value  to  him.  After  his  father  died  he  took  the  management  of  the 
farm  and  carried  it  on  in  a  highly  successful  manner,  laying  up  a  competence 
that  will  l)ring  comfort  and  ease  to  his  old  age.    He  owns  three  farms,  two  in 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Up]ier  Alloway  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  and  anotlier  of  ninety  acres,  and 
one  in  Quinton  of  one  Iiundred  and  fifty-four  acres.  He  also  owned  a  saw- 
mill and  was  interested  in  ship-building.  He  was  formerly  a  Republican, 
representing  Salem  county  in  the  legislature  two  terms,  from  1872  to  1874. 
He  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  nineteen  years  and  has  made  a  very 
efficient  official,  never  having  a  case  appealed  to  a  higher  court.  He  belongs 
to  several  fraternal  organizations  and  takes  a  leading  part  in  their  meetings. 
He  was  married  November  23,  1848,  to  Mary  Rebecca  Mcllvain,  who  bore 
him  eight  children,  namely:  Abbie  Keziah,  the  wife  of  Clinton  Cheesman, 
who  died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  received  in  the  civil  war.  leaving  two 
children, — Clarence  and  Harold;  Daniel  P.,  a  veterinarian  and  proprietor  of 
an  exchange  stable  in  Alloway  and  a  trustee  of  the  county  almshouse;  he 
married  Mary  E.  Patterson  and  has  two  children, — Bertie  and  Maud;  John  is 
a  farmer  and  married  Amanda  Wentzel,  by  whom  he  has  three  children, — 
Bertha,  Stella  and  Elvina;  George  W..  our  subject;  Charles  married  Mamie 
Trickett,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  Trickett,  a  Baptist  clergyman  of  this 
place;  Winifred,  who  married  Raymond  Batton.  the  postmaster  of  Alloway; 
Mary,  and  Robert,  a  clerk. 

George  W.  Dorrell  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Alloway  and 
then  embarked  in  the  butcher  and  ice  business  and  opened  a  market,  in 
which  he  was  very  successful.  In  1887  he  opened  a  general  store,  which  he 
has  since  conducted  with  profit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  patrons, 
building  up  a  large  trade  and  carrying  it  on  in  a  manner  liest  calculated  to 
insure  its  success.  He  has  also  done  a  little  in  the  line  of  agriculture,  and  is 
a  man  of  energy  and  enterprise.  He  is  a  Republican  and  was  a  freeholder 
for  Upper  Alloway  township,  giving  valuable  aid  to  the  party.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Masons, 
Ridgely  Protective  Association  and  the  State  Mutual  Building  and  Loan 
Association  and  of  the  Republican  organization  of  this  tillage.  He  was 
married  in  1883,  to  Miss  Sallie  C.  Fox,  a  daughter  of  George  W.  Fox,  a 
farmer  of  Alloway  township.    They  have  one  child,  named  Rebecca  K. 


WILLIAM  M.  TOSLIN. 


\\'illiani  Murphy  Joslin.  the  popular  and  accommodating  liveryman  of 
Salem,  is  a  son  of  Jedediah  and  Mary  (May)  Joslin  and  was  born  near  Elmer, 
this  state.  May  14,  1842.  Jedediah  Joslin  was  a  son  of  William  Joslin,  who 
traced  his  ancestors  back  to  English  soil.  He  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county.   New  Jersey,   in    1808,  and   followed   farming   near   Elmer.   Salem 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  201 

county,  for  the  greater  part  of  his  Hfe.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  during  the 
war  was  engaged  in  Philadelphia  in  supplying  substitute  soldiers  for  those 
who  desired  them.  He  married  Mary  May  and  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children, — four  sons  and  three  daughters:  Delwrah.  married  Orvil  Schuyler, 
a  railway  conductor  who  resides  at  Philadelphia,  and  their  children  are 
Minnie,  Mary,  Charles  and  Bert.  Uriah  B.,  who  was  a  farmer  and  entered 
the  Twelfth  New  Jersey  regiment.  Company  H,  in  the  civil  war,  and  was 
struck  in  the  shoulder  by  a  musket  ball  during  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  three  years  later.  He  married  Kate 
Thompson,  by  whom  he  had  three  children;  William  Murphy  is  the  next  of 
the  family;  Enoch  is  unmarried;  Elizabeth  married  Andrew  Gifford  and 
afterward  wedded  Aaron  Cade;  Hannah  married  John  Hanckerson,  a  milk 
dealer,  and  they  have  one  child.  Lilly;  Charles  G.,  the  youngest,  married 
Miss  Maggie  Mortimer  and  has  six  children.  He  is  proprietor  of  a  large 
country  store  at  Prospect  Plains,  this  state.  Jedediah  Joslin  departed  this 
life  December  13.  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  His  wife  died  in  her 
eighty-first  year,  on  December  23,  1897. 

William  M.  Joslin  began  the  duties  of  life  at  an  early  age,  being  only 
ten  years  old  when  he  began  work  on  a  farm.  He  continued  at  this  employ- 
ment for  five  years  and  then  secured  a  situation  in  a  mill,  where  he  remained 
until  he  moved  to  Philadelphia.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  milk  business  and 
worked  up  a  large  route,  running  three  wagons  to  supply  his  patrons  and 
continuing  for  eighteen  years.  He  then  opened  a  flour  and  feed  store  in 
the  same  city,  which  he  managed  seven  years,  until  1888,  when  he  came  to 
Salem  and  went  into  the  livery  business,  where  he  is  still  to  be  found.  He 
keeps  a  livery  of  twelve  horses  at  his  old  stand  near  the  county  jail,  and  his 
barn  is  a  favorite  place  for  farmers  who  desire  to  rest  their  teams  in  a  com- 
fortable place. 

On  the  26th  of  Felsruary.  1868,  was  solemnized  the  nuptials  of  Mr.  Joslin 
and  Miss  Amanda  M..  daughter  of  William  and  Catharine  Seebeth.  Three 
children  have  blessed  their  union;  Mary  May,  a  bookkeeper;  Katie  Seebeth, 
the  wife  of  Frank  R.  Green,  a  grocer  of  Philadelphia,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Frank  Russell;  and  Edna  B.,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  York- 
town.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Joslin  was  a  liaker  in  Philadelphia.  He  acted  as  a 
nurse  in  the  Christian  Hospital  of  Philadelphia  during  the  civil  war  and 
brought  comfort  and  cheer  to  many  a  dying  bed.  He  is  a  member  of  Fidelity 
Lodge,  No.  38,  L  O.  O.  F..  in  Philadelphia,  the  Brotherhood  of  Union  at 
Salem,  L'nited  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Red  Men  of  America  for  more  than  twentv  vears. 


202  BIOGK.II'HIC.IL    HISTORY   01-    THE   FIRST 

WILLIAM   .\L  COLSOX. 

A  wortlu'  rei)resentati\e  of  aj^ricullural  iiiterc^ls.  throuqlunU  liis  l)usi- 
ness  career  Mr.  Colson  has  successfully  carried  on  fanning  and  is  to-day 
the  owner  of  one  of  the  valuable  country  homes,  his  farm  comprising  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  rich  and  highly  cultivated  land.  It  is  located 
near  Mullica  Hill,  and  in  that  place  he  was  horn  July  i8,  1841.  His  father. 
Jonathan  Colson,  was  born  in  H.arrisonville,  New  Jersey,  July  25,  181 1, 
and  died  February  6,  1900.  He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  Colson,  Sr.,  whose 
father,  George  Colson,  was  also  a  native  of  Gloucester  county.  The  famil\- 
is  of  Welsh  origin  and  was  founded  in  America  about  the  year  1700  liy 
emigrants  who  settled  in  his  neighborhood.  The\'  were  a  Quaker  family. 
people  of  sterling  worth  who  manifested  marked  loyalty  to  all  the  duties  of 
public  and  private  life.  Jonathan  Colson,  the  grandfather,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Gloucester  county  until  1820,  when  he  abandoned  agricultural  pursuits 
and  turned  his  attention  to  merchandising  in  Philadelphia.  A  few  years 
later,  however,  he  returned  to  New  Jersey  and  conducted  a  store  in  Mullica 
Hill.  His  son  Jonathan  became  his  successor  and  carried  on  merchandising 
there  until  1845,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  our  subject  now 
resides.  Enterprise  and  diligence  have  been  the  salient  points  in  his  career. 
He  started  out  in  life  empty-handed  and  steadil\-  worked  his  way  upward, 
acquiring  a  handsome  competence.  He  died  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years, — a  venerable  gentleman,  whose  life  is  crowned  with  the  respect 
which  should  ever  be  accorded  to  old  age.  He  made  his  home  with  his  son 
William.  He  married  Hannah  Lippincott,  a  daughter  of  James  Lippincott, 
of  Camden  county,  and  she  also  is  living,  having  attained  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  They  have  two  children. — William  and  ]Mary,  the  latter  the  wife 
of  C.  B.  Coles,  who  is  extensix-ely  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  South 
Camden. 

William  M.  Colson  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  in 
the  Poughkeepsie  Commercial  College  and  in  other  lioarding  schools.  He 
early  became  familiar  with  the  labors  and  duties  that  fall  to  the  agriculturist, 
assisting  his  father  in  the  development  of  the  home  farm  from  his  boy- 
hood. He  has  always  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  addition  to  the 
homestead  he  is  today  the  owner  of  considerable  land  elsewhere  which  yields 
to  him  an  excellent  income.  He  follows  most  progressive  methods  in  the 
operation  of  his  land  and  the  well  tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute. 
He  is  also  financially  interested  in  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Woodbury 
and  since  1888  has  served  as  a  member  of  its  directorate. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1867.  Air.  Colson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 


t^'- 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   XBIV  JERSEY.  203 

Margaret  Hazelton,  a  daughter  of  William  Hazelton,  of  this  locality.  Unto 
them  were  born  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  living, — William,  Charles 
and  Lillie.  In  his  political  x'iews  Mr.  Colson  is  a  Republican.  In  1885  he 
was  elected  a  freeholder  for  a  three  years  term,  he  has  also  been  township 
committeeman  and  is  deeply  interested  in  any  movement  that  tends  to  pro- 
mote the  growth  and  insure  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  an  intelligent 
gentleman  of  pleasant  manners  and  courteous  deportment,  an  enterprising 
and  successful  farmer  and  a  ])ublic-spirited  citizen  who  well  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume. 


H.\RRY  H.  RICE. 


This  gentleman  is  a  well-known  contractor  and  builder  at  Ocean  City, 
and  the  evidences  of  his  handiwork  are  found  in  many  of  the  most  attractive 
and  substantial  structures  of  this  and  other  sections  of  Cape  May  county.  He 
was  born  in  this  county,  at  Townsend  Inlet,  now  known  as  Clermont,  June 
22.  1865,  his  parents  l)eing  William  and  Theodosia  (Sutton)  Rice.  The  fam- 
ily has  long  been  connected  with  this  locality.  The  paternal  great-grand- 
father, Arthur  Rice,  resided  at  Goshen  and  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  following 
that  pursuit  throughout  his  active  business  career.  His  death  occurred  in 
the  vicinity  of  Goshen.  \\'illiam  Rice,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  at  that  place,  and  for  many  years  resided  at  Cedar  Grove,  near 
Seaville,  in  Dennis  township.  He  was  a  ship  carpenter  and  followed  that 
trade  through  his  entire  life.  He  also  engaged  in  oyster-planting  to  some 
extent,  and  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance.  His  political 
support  was  given  the  Democracy,  and  he  was  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  its 
principles  and  purposes.  He  was  twice  married,  and  his  death  occurred  at 
the  age  of  sevent\"-four  years.  The  children  of  his  first  union  were  as  fol- 
lows: Charles,  who  was  a  sea  captain  and  lived  at  Townsend  Inlet,  married 
Hanna  Jane  Brower,  and  their  children  were  Livingstone,  Anna,  Charles, 
Aaron,  Hattie  and  others  who  died  in  infancy.  Ann  Eliza  married  William 
Tice,  a  sea  captain,  of  Dennisville.  Later  she  moved  to  Bristol,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  their  children  are  Harriet,  Sallie,  William,  George,  David,  Anna 
and  ^lary.  Edward,  a  sea  captain,  married  Hester  Teal,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  Mary,  Hester,  Edward,  Louisa,  Frank  and  William.  The  child- 
ren of  the  second  marriage  are  William,  the  fourth  of  the  family  and  the 
father  of  our  subject;  Sarah,  now  deceased,  who  married  Alexander  Sutton, 
a  sailor  and  farmer  at  Clermont,  Xew  Jersey,  and  their  children  were  George 
and  Mary:  .\melia.  who  became  the  wife  of  Enoch  Young,  and  after  his 
death  in  1864,  married  James  O'Donnell,  a  track  foreman  in  the  employ  of 


204  BIOCRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

tlie  New  Jersey  Railroad  C"om])any.  by  wluim  slie  liad  a  ilauolucr,  F.Ila: 
JNlary  became  tlic  wife  of  David  Dooling,  a  glass-worker  residing  in  Cla\ton. 
New  Jersey,  and  tbeir  cbildrcn  are  Stacy,  Eugene  and  Jolni. 

\\'i!liam  Rice,  tbe  fatber  of  our  subject,  was  boiMi  in  Clermont,  Xcw 
Jersew  April  24.  1831,  and  attended  a  private  scbool  near  Ocean  View.  In 
early  manbood  be  began  oyster-planting,  and  has  always  done  a  very  exten- 
sive business  in  that  line,  employing  twenty  to  thirty  men  a  large  part  of  the 
time  and  shipping  the  product  of  his  oyster  beds  from  Seaville.  His  reHa- 
bility  and  enterprise  have  made  him  very  successful  and  he  now  controls  a 
large  trade.  His  home  is  in  Cedar  Gro\-e.  He  gi\es  his  political  support  to 
the  Democracy,  and  religiously  is  connected  with  the  Asbury  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  married  Miss  Theodosia  Sutton,  who  was  bom  May  i, 
1834,  and  they  are  both  still  living,  at  the  ages  of  sixty-eight  and  sixty- five 
years  respectively.  They  have  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  now-  dead. 
Virginia  became  the  wife  of  James  P.  \\'ay,  a  son  of  Dr.  P.  M.  \\'ay,  of 
Ocean  View.  They  had  three  children.^ — Maud,  Ethel  and  Edna;  but  the 
second  daughter  is  now  deceased;  and  the  parents  also  have  passed  away. 
Joseph  Lybrand,  wdio  is  a  surfman  at  Townsend  Inlet  life-saving  station, 
married  Mary  Emma  Sheppard,  and  has  one  son,  George.  Howard,  who  is 
connected  with  the  life-saving  service  and  stationed  at  present  at  Corson"s 
Inlet,  married  Maggie  Sutton,  and  their  children  are, — Ral])li.  Melvin,  Ariel. 
Ploward,  Leslie  and  Vera,  the  last  two  now  deceased.  Dessa  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years.  Harry  Hand  is  the  fifth  of  the  family.  Walter  luarried  Ger- 
trude Buck,  and  has  two  children.    Clarence  died  at  the  age  of  one  year. 

Harry  Hand  Rice  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cedar 
Grove,  but  through  experience,  observation  and  extensive  reading  has  added 
greatly  to  his  knowledge.  Eor  a  time  he  successfully  engaged  in  teaching, 
having  charge  of  the  Union  public  schools  at  West  Creek,  Cumberland 
county,  for  tw'O  years.  Subsequently  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at 
Sea  Isle  City.  For  five  years  he  worked  as  a  journeyman,  and  then  began 
contracting,  becoming  a  master  builder  and  conducting  business  at  Sea 
Isle  City  and  vicinity.  In  1894  he  took  up  the  study  of  architecture,  and  has 
since  followed  that  profession,  in  connection  with  contracting  and  building. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  seashore  cottage  designing  and  building.  Remov- 
ing to  Ocean  City  in  1896  he  has  since  done  a  prosperous  Inisiness.  He  has 
been  the  architect  and  builder  of  many  large  hotels  and  cottages.  Ha\ing 
actpiired  a  large  patronage,  he  now  furnishes  employment  to  a  number  of 
men,  and  in  business  circles  he  sustains  an  enviable  reputation,  for  he  faith- 
fully performs  his  part  of  his  contracts  and  under  his  supervision  excellent 
work  is  done.     He  has  made  judicious  investments  in  real  estate  and  now 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  205 

owns  considerable  property  at  Ocean  City  and  a  residence  at  South  Sea- 
ville.  He  is  a  member  and  director  of  the  South  Seaville  Building  &  Loan 
Association  of  the  latter  place. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1883,  Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage  with 
L)-dia  B.  Sheppard,  a  daughter  of  William  Sheppard,  a  millwright  and  wheel- 
wright living  at  South  Seaville.     They  now  have  two  interesting  children. 

Virginia  and  Paul.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  member  of  Dennisville  Lodge,  K.  of  P. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Senior  Order  of  the  United  American  Mechanics, 
but  that  lodge  surrendered  its  charter  a  short  time  ago.  He  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic 
party,  but  has  never  sought  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  energies 
to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has  gained  creditable  success. 


WILLLVM  HEWITT  HANNOLD. 

The  Hannold  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  in  the  state  of 
New  Jersey.  Isaac  Hannold,  born  in  Germany,  August  28,  1755,  died  in 
Paulsboro,  New  Jersey,  April  6.  1825.  He  had  ten  thousand  dollars  in  gold 
and  during  the  revolutionary  war  lost  about  half  of  it.  His  wife,  Elizabeth, 
who  is  said  to  have  been  a  half-breed  American  Indian,  born  January  8,  1756, 
died  in  December,  1836.  Their  children  were:  Frederick,  born  December 
-/•  ^777-  '■^'i^f^  in  Paulsboro.  New  Jersey,  April  2,  1834:  Isaac,  born  March 
29,  1780,  died  in  Mantua,  New  Jersey,  January  15.  1824;  John,  born  August 
31,  1782,  died  in  Illinois,  February  22,  1848;  Joseph,  born  June  26,  1785,  died 
in  Crosswicks,  New  Jersey,  May  16,  1865;  Simeon,  born  October  13,  1787, 
died  in  Philadelphia  in  1863:  Samuel,  born  Feliruary  3.  1792,  died  in  Glou- 
cester, New  Jersey,  in  October,  1865:  Isaiah,  born  June  28,  1795.  died  in 
Ohio  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Tjos:  Amos,  born  April  29,  1799,  died  in 
Pennsylvania  sometime  after  i860:  and  Eli,  born  December  21,  1801,  died 
in  Ohio  sometime  in  the  '30s.  Of  these,  Frederick  and  his  wife  Keziah  had. 
among  other  children:  George,  who  was  born  in  1797.  and  died  April  25, 
1895,  and  who  married  Ann  Holmes,  who  was  born  November  i,  1799,  and 
died  January  i,  1857.  They  were  married  October  24,  1822,  and  had  seven 
children:  Elizabeth,  born  February  10,  1824,  is  the  widow  of  Samuel  Hufif, 
of  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey:  William  Hewitt,  born  May  17,  1826,  is  the  sec- 
ond of  the  family;  Keziah.  deceased,  was  born  October  13,  1828,  and  married 
Joseph  L.  Huff,  a  brother  of  Samuel  Huff,  of  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey;  Maria, 
born  September  26,  1830,  married  John  S.  Nolen  for  her  first  husband  and 
Samuel  Sailsbery  for  her  second,  and  is  a  resident  of  Paulsboro,  New  Jerey; 


2o6  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   01'    THE   FIRST 

Charles  Holmes,  horn  January  17.  1833.  is  a  w  licel\\ri_^lit,  and  married 
Amanda  Ilulif,  a  niece  of  Samuel  and  J.  L.  Huff:  George  Washington,  born 
June  28,  1835,  served  an  apprenticeship  with  his  brother,  William,  enlisted 
in  the  Twenty-fourth  regiment  of  New  Jersey  \'olunteers,  was  wounded  at 
Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  had  an  arm  amputated  and  died  in  the 
field  hospital,  December  25,  1862;  and  Miss  Mary  Hannold,  born  May  30, 
1838,  died  April  3,  1881. 

William  Hewitt  Hannold  was  born  in  a  one-stor\-  log  house  about  two 
miles  from  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey,  in  Greenwich  township,  Gloucester 
county.  New  Jersey.  When  a  young  boy  he  l^ecame  apprenticed  to  John 
Davidson,  of  Clarksboro,  to  learn  the  cabinet-making  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness, and  soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
in  Paulsboro,  where  he  built  a  large  house  and  factory  and  did  an  extensive 
business  in  furniture  making  and  repairing  and  in  undertaking.  In  1867  he 
removed  to  Swedesboro  and  jnirchased  his  ]iresent  ](lace  of  business,  on 
which  he  has  since  erected  new  and  substantial  Iniildings.  and  built  in  1890  a 
large  double  residence,  which  he  and  his  son  occupy.  His  sons,  George  W. 
and  William  H..  Jr.,  are  now  interested  with  their  father  in  the  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  W.  H.  Hannold  &  Sons.  They  do  a  general  house- 
furnishing  business  and  are  equipped  to  give  the  very  best  undertaking  serv- 
ice in  every  particular,  their  trade  extending  throughout  Gloucester  and 
Salem  counties.  Also  they  are  engaged  in  a  marble  and  granite  business. 
their  works  having  been  established  in  1877. 

Mr.  Hannold  was  married  April  12,  1853,  to  Miss  Rebecca  S.  Egee.  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Emily  (Shaw)  Egee,  of  Clarksboro,  and  they  have 
had  six  children,  namely:  Isaac  Newton,  the  head  clerk  and  cashier  of 
Houghton  &  Company,  oil  dealers,  Philadelphia.  Pennsyhania;  he  married 
Miss  Agnes  Hall;  Mary  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  fourteen  years:  Susanna  B. 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  P.  Cheesman.  of  Elmer,  New  Jersey,  and  they  have  two 
children, — William  Hannold  and  Clementine  Frances;  George  \\'.,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  &  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F..  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  ^\.. 
of  Swedesboro,  married  Miss  Irene  Stratton,  daughter  of  Isaac  Stratton. 
of  Swedesboro,  and  has  one  child,  Leland  Stratton;  Annie  Holmes  is  the 
wife  of  J.  Howard  Kirkbride.  of  Cajiiden,  New  Jersey;  and  William  Hewitt, 
Jr..  who  is  a  niemlier  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  ^I.  and  Red  Men  of  Swedesboro. 
married  Aliss  Mary  Justice  of  BridgeiKirt.  New  Jersey,  and  has  three  child- 
ren.— Agnes  Hall,  Frances  Justice  and  William  Hewitt,  tiiird.  .\]1  of  Mr. 
Hannold's  children  have  had  good  educational  advantages  and  are  fitted  to 
occu]:)v.  as  the\-  do.  useful  and  honorable  positions  in  society. 

The  Hannold  family  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Swede.s- 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  207 

boro,  of  which  Air.  Hannokl  was  formerly  a  trustee.  He  is  now  a  director 
of  the  Lake  Park  Cemetery  Company.  He  became  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  in  Clarksboro  the  week  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  afterward  moved  his 
membership  to  Paulsboro  and  then  to  Swedesboro.  He  is  a  Repubhcan  in 
pohtics,  and  was  for  three  years  a  coroner  in  Paulsboro. 


BENJAMIN  E.  HARRIS. 

Benjamin  E.  Harris,  a  merchant  at  Canton,  Lower  Alloway's  Creek 
township,  Salem  county,  was  born  in  that  township,  June  5,  1856,  and  is 
a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Carll)  Harris,  both  natives  of  the  township.  His 
mother  still  lives  there,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  His  father  died 
there.  May  16,  1896,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He  is  a  grandson 
of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (English)  Harris,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Upper  Alloway's  Creek  township,  1:)ut  removed  to  Lower  Alloway's  Creek 
township,  when  three  years  old. 

He  is  a  great-grandson  of  John  Harris,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  and  the  youngest  of  six  children  of  the  Harris  pioneer,  whose 
first  name  is  not  recorded.  In  his  father's  family  there  are  four  children: 
Lydia,  now  Mrs.  James  Butcher,  of  Salem;  Hannah  A.,  now  Mrs.  Winfield 
Patrick,  of  Hancock's  Bridge:  Anna  E..  now  Mrs.  W.  Carll,  of  Harmers- 
ville;  and  Benjamin  E. 

Mr.  Harris  was  educated  in  the  ]3ublic  schools  of  his  native  town,  four 
years  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem  and  one  year  in  the  South  Jersey 
Institute  in  Bridgeton.  He  then  joined  his  father  on  the  farm,  wdiere  the 
family  had  lived  since  1847  and  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
son-in-law%  James  W.  Carll.  During  the  year  1881  Mr.  Harris  was  employed 
in  the  post-ofifice  in  Cape  May  city.  The  next  year,  his  father  retiring  from 
the  farm  and  removing  to  Hancock's  Bridge,  he  succeeded  his  father  on  the 
farm.  In  1891,  in  company  with  Winfield  S.  Carll,  he  purchased  the  mer- 
chandising and  canning  business  of  John  P.  Sheppard.  of  Canton,  where 
they  have  since  done  a  thriving  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Carll  & 
Harris. 

Mr.  Harris  was  married  February  9,  1882,  to  Rosanna,  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  P.  Carll,  of  Harmersville.  They  have  three  children, — Louisa  C.  J. 
Carll  and  Christine   Nilsson. 

Mr.  Harris  is  a  trustee  of  the  Canton  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  was 
formerly  a  deacon,  and  has  been  the  chorister  for  the  past  twenty  years. 


2o8  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

He  is  a  Rcpiiljlican  in  jiolitics,  and  has  served  liis  town  as  tlie  townslii]") 
clerk,  president  of  the  Ijoard  of  edncation,  commissioner  of  deeds  and  lias 
been  the  postmaster  of  Canton  since  April,  1892. 


HENRY  KEITH  BUGBEE. 

It  has  assuredly  been  not  uninteresting  to  observe  in  the  series  of  bio- 
graphical sketches  appearing  in  this  volume  the  varying  nationality,  origin 
and  early  environment  of  men  who  have  made  their  way  to  positions  of 
prominence  and  success.  In  no  better  way  can  we  gain  a  conception  of  the 
diverse  elements  which  have  entered  into  our  social,  professional  and  com- 
mercial life,  and  which  will  impart  to  the  future  American  type,  features  which 
cannot  be  conjectured  at  the  present  time.  We  have  had  an  American  type 
in  the  past;  we  shall  have  a  distinctly  national  character  in  the  future;  but 
for  the  present  amalgamation  of  the  various  elements  is  proceeding  and  the 
final  result  is  yet  remote. 

Mr.  Bugbee  is  of  English  lineage  and  belongs  to  a  family  that  has  long 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  history  of  New  England  at  an  early 
period  in  our  colonial  history.  The  first  of  the  name  of  w'hom  we  have  record 
was  Stephen  Bugbee,  who  resided  at  Whitechapel,  East  Division,  London, 
England,  which  place  was  originally  called  Bugbee's  Marshes.  His  son. 
Edward  Bugbee,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1634  and  made  his  residence 
in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  His  son,  Joseph  Bugbee.  together  with  thirty- 
seven  others  of  Roxbury  people,  obtained  from  town  officials  a  grant  of  land 
westward, — a  place  then  called  Wabbaquassett  country,  subsequently  and 
still  called  Woodstock,  Connecticut.  This  wilderness  locality  had  been  one 
of  the  missionary  fields  of  John  Eliot,  the  Indian  apostle,  who  was  the  min- 
ister of  the  first  church  of  Roxbury,  and  it  was  undoubtedly  from  him  that 
the  new  and  fair  country  was  made  known  to  the  Roxbury  people,  and  a 
desire  created  by  Joseph  and  his  friends  to  possess  it.  which  they  did  in  1686. 
their  object  being,  as  stated  in  their  petition,  "to  impro\'e  the  condition  and 
usefulness  of  the  colony  and  to  increase  the  pasturage  for  their  cattle."  The 
choice  was  a  wise  one;  for  Woodstock  is  one  of  the  best  and  finest  of  all 
the  agricultural  towns  in  Connecticut. 

Of  Joseph  Bugbee's  family,  his  son  Samuel  was  the  next  in  the  line  of 
direct  descent  to  our  subject,  and  he  was  the  father  of  James  Bugbee,  who 
was  the  father  of  Hezekiah  Bugbee,  who  held  the  rank  of  captain  of  trans- 
portation in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  David 
Holmes,  who  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  also  during 


^ 


s^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  209 

the  Revolutionary  war.  Captain  Hezekiah  Bugliee  was  the  father  of  Heze- 
kiah  Bugbee,  Jr.,  who  was  the  father  of  our  subject,  and  was  the  fifth  in  the 
line  of  direct  descent.  All  were  Woodstock  farmers,  and  all  Congregational- 
ists  of  the  old  Puritan  order.  The  five  generations  of  the  Woodstock  family 
lie  buried  in  the  old  town  cemetery.  Hezekiah  Bugbee,  Jr..  married  a 
daughter  of  Eleazer  Keith,  a  descendant  of  Rev.  James  Keith,  who  was  a 
graduate  of  Aberdeen  and  came  to  America  in  1662.  Mrs.  Eleazer  Keith 
was  a  descendant  of  the  noted  missionary  family  of  Judson. 

Henry  K.  Bugbee,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  acquired  his  prelimin- 
ary education  in  the  common  schools  and  later  pursued  a  course  in  the 
Woodstock  Academy,  where  he  was  graduated.  In  1847  h^  came  to  Bruns- 
wick, New  Jersey,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  six  years.  Subsequently 
he  went  to  Blackwood,  where  he  taught  for  three  years,  in  the  Blackwood 
Academy,  after  which  he  was  employed  as  an  instructor  in  a  private  school 
in  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey.  In  1865  he  came  to  Williamstown  and  for  twenty 
years  was  the  principal  of  the  public  schools,  demonstrating  himself  to  be  an 
able  educator.  In  his  methods  of  teaching  he  was  progressive,  and  he  had 
the  faculty  of  imparting  readily  to  others  the  knowledge  that  he  had  ac- 
quired. His  health  failing  him,  he  purchased  considerable  land,  and,  aban- 
doning the  school-room,  turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate  business.  He 
has  erected  many  houses  here  and  has  thereliy  contributed  largely  to  the 
improvemetit  and  prosperity  of  the  town.  He  is  now  a  surveyor,  convey- 
ancer and  commissioner  of  deeds,  and  owns  and  handles  valuable  property 
interests.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  county  board  of 
examiners  of  teachers,  and  through  the  care  he  exercised  in  this  matter  he 
was  instrumental  in  advancing  the  educational  interests  of  the  county.  He 
has  held  a  number  of  township  offices  and  in  such  positions  has  discharged 
the  duties  with  marked  promptness  and  fidelity. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1858.  Mr.  Bugbee  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  Patch,  a  daughter  of  Charles  Patch,  who  was  a  nati\e  of  England,  and 
they  have  had  three  children:  Ella,  the  wife  of  Ernest  C.  Bodine,  of  Wil- 
liamstown; Rilla  and  Alice,  who  are  teachers.  The  family  hold  a  high  posi- 
tion in  social  circles  where  culture,  intelligence  and  true  worth  are  received 
as  the  passports  into  good  society.  For  thirty-one  years  Mrs.  Bugbee  was 
a  successful  teacher  in  Williamstown,  where  she  held  the  position  of  vice 
principal;  and  when  she  resigned  her  position  the  teachers  and  school  board 
presented  her  with  a  finely  engrossed  memorial  and  testimonial  in  token 
of  their  esteem  and  of  their  appreciation  of  her  able  work. 

Mr.  Bugbee  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  is  now  serving  as 
its  treasurer,  and  in  its  work  takes  a  deep  and  active  interest.     He  is  the 

II— N 


2IO  BlOGR.-lPHIC.-iL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

frienil  of  all  measures  tliat  tend  to  benefit  and  ni)Iift  mankind,  and  in  manx- 
ways  he  has  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  for  good  upon  the  social, 
intellectual  and  moral  life  of  the  community.  He  is  now  seventy-four  years 
of  age,  his  birth  having-  occurred  February  5,  1826;  yet  his  advanced  years 
indicate  neither  physical  nor  mental  infirmities.  He  keeps  himself  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  of  the  day,  is  still  actively  associated  with  the  business 
affairs  of  his  adopted  county,  and  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen 
who  well  merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


J.  HILDRETH  DICKESON. 

Great  has  been  the  progress  of  all  the  material  interests  of  our  country 
to  the  present  time,  still  greater  progress  is  confidently  predicted  for  the 
early  part  of  the  new  century.  Great  as  is  the  honor  due  the  progressive 
citizen  of  a  generation  just  passing  away,  the  efforts  of  the  representative 
young  men  of  today  are  so  promising  that  the  results  of  their  combined 
labors  are  awaited  with  keen  interest  by  every  thoughtful  citizen.  Among 
the  younger  men  of  Woodstown,  New  Jersey,  whose  efforts  promise  much 
for  the  public  good,  J.  Hildreth  Dickeson  is  conspicuous. 

Mr.  Dickeson  was  born  September  14,  1872,  in  Mannington.  Salem 
county,  New  Jersey,  and  is  a  son  of  Hon.  A.  M.  P.  V.  H.  Dickeson  and  his 
wife,  Mary  J.,  nee  Springer,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Lydia  Springer,  of 
Upper  Penn's  Neck  township,  this  county. 

The  name  of  Dickenson  and  Dickeson  are  the  same,  with  the  slight  dif- 
ference in  orthography  which  will  be  apparent  even  to  a  reader  who  notices 
them  only  in  passing.  According  to  the  most  reliable  information,  the  first 
Dickeson  who  settled  in  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  was  John  Dickeson. 
who  came  from  England  and  is  believed  to  have  located  in  Upper  Alloway's 
township,  at  a  time  when  that  township  was  a  part  of  the  extensive  western 
division  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey.  By  his  will,  dated  .\ugust  13.  1768. 
"in  the  eighth  year  of  the  reign  of  King  George  HI  of  England."  bequests 
were  made  to  the  following  descendants:  William,  Thomas.  David,  John  and 
Mary.  His  son  Thomas  had  five  children,  named  Samuel.  William.  Jona- 
than. Mar}-  and  Jedediah.  Samuel,  the  first  mentioned  of  these,  the  great- 
grandfather of  J.  Hildreth  Dickeson,  married  Sarah  Pancoast  in  1812  and  had 
six  children, — Thomas  P.,  Samuel.  Sarah.  Mary.  William  and  another  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Samuel  Dickeson  was  born  in  1783  and  died  in  1849.  His  wife.  Sarah 
Pancoast,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Pancoast,  was  born  in  1786, 


COXGRESS/OXAL    DISTRICT   OF   .V£ff   JERSEY.  211 

and  died  in  1834.  Samuel  Dickeson,  Jr..  ilied  ()ctol)er  20.  1S43.  aged 
twenty-nine  years.  William  died  Octolier  7.  1829.  Thomas  P.  was  born 
February  20,  181 3,  and  married  Joanna  Hildreth,  of  Lower  Alloway's 
Creek  township,  Salem  county,  New  Jersey.  He  became  a  popular  and  suc- 
cessful physician  and  was  an  influential  citizen.  A.  M.  P.  \'.  H.  Dickeson, 
the  father  of  J.  Hildreth  Dickeson.  Thomas  P.  Dickeson.  Jr..  and  J.  Hildreth 
Dickeson,  were  his  sons. 

William  Dickeson,  grandson  of  John  Dickeson,  the  original  settler  of  the 
name,  married  Mary  Hall,  a  daughter  of  ^^'illiam  Hall,  of  Mannington 
township,  Salem  county,  and  had  children  named  Charles,  Hannah  and 
Achsah.  Charles,  aged  ninety  years,  is  living  at  Shiloh,  Cumberland  county. 
New  Jersey.  Achsah  Dickeson  married  Allen  \\  allace.  who  became  a  prom- 
inent social  leader  and  Democratic  politician  and  was  elected  to  the  New 
Jersey  assembly  of  1843-4  and  to  the  New  Jersey  state  senate  in  1861,  and 
was  appointed  associate  judge  by  Governor  McClellan,  and  in  that  high 
judicial  office  so  acquitted  himself  as  to  gain  a  lasting  reputation  for  probity 
and  sound  judgment.  Following  are  some  interesting  facts  relative  to  the 
children  of  Allen  and  Achsah  (Dickeson)  Wallace:  Edward  Wallace  was 
born  November  22.  1833.  and  married  Abigail  Turner.  Achsah  H.  was  born 
January  12,  1839,  and  married  Charles  Lindzey.  Sarah  .\.,  born  Septem- 
ber 20,  1842,  and  married  George  B.  Grier.  Rachel  C  who  was  born  October 
20,  1845,  married  George  Lippincott,  and  their  second  daughter.  Aldona 
W.,  born  November  27,  1869,  became  the  wife  of  J.  Hildreth  Dickeson. 
Allan  Wallace,  Jr.,  was  born  October  21,  1846,  and  married  Keziah  Ashcraft. 
Hannah  D.,  born  October  i,  1848,  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Crispin. 
John,  born  June  22,  1850,  married  Clara  Lippincott  and  after  her  death  Anna 
Barnes.  Franklin,  born  June  15,  1854,  married  Deborah  Lippincott.  Mary 
Emma,  born  August  8,  1857,  married  Joel  Barton,  of  Piles  Grove  township. 

Hon.  A.  M.  P.  V.  H.  Dickeson  was  born  September  29,  1842,  and  died 
June  15,  1879,  in  his  thirty-seventh  year.  He  early  learned  farming.  He  was 
prepared  for  college  at  Salem  Academ\-  and  was  graduated  in  Princeton 
Uuniversity  in  the  class  of  1864.  He  then  returned  home  and  for  six  years 
was  an  active  and  successful  farmer.  Meanwhile  he  developed  an  interest 
in  legal  matters  and  took  a  course  in  law  at  the  Uni\ersity  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  his  profession  at  Woods- 
town,  1 876- 1 879,  until  his  death  in  the  last  named  year  cut  short  a  career 
which  was  marked  by  success  and  brilliant  with  promise.  He  was  for  two 
years,  1866-1867,  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  legislature.  He  married 
Mary  J.,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Lydia  Springer,  of  Upper  Penn's  Neck 
township,  Salem  county,  in   1870.     She  survives  him  and  is  a  resident  of 


212  BIOGK.U'HJC.IL   lUSrORY   UF   11111   hIRST 

Salem.  Tlicir  lirst  son  was  l)orn  May  \J.  1S71.  and  died  on  the  I2tli  of 
Seinenil)er  of  that  year.  J.  Hikh-etli  was  horn  Sc|)tember  14,  1872;  Wilbur 
was  horn  January  20.  iiS75;  Anne  was  i)orn  January  30,  1877;  and  Cornelia, 
who  was  born  No\ember  2,  1878.  died  of  ty|)hoid  malaria  on  the  5th  of 
August,   1884. 

J.  Hildretli  Dickeson  received  a  public  school,  commercial  and  sub- 
sequently a  mechanical  education,  wdiich  was  completed  in  1896.  In  1897 
he  removed  to  Woodstown,  w'here  he  assumed  charge  of  extensive  farm- 
ing interests.  His  abilities  are  of  a  high  order  and  his  business  education 
and  experience  are  thorough  and  comprehensive,  and  those  who  know  him 
best  predict  for  him  an  honorable  and  successful  career.  He  is  identified  with 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics 
and  is  conspicuously  public-spirited  and  progressive.  He  married  Aldona 
W'.,  a  tlaughter  of  George  and  Rachel  (Wallace)  Lippincott,  of  Woodstown, 
June  22,,  1897,  ''ud  they  have  a  daughter,  born  June  9.  1898,  and  named 
Hilda. 


NELSON  STEWARD  HAYS. 

The  present  efficient  and  popular  superintendent  of  the  water-works  at 
Wildwood  is  Nelson  S.  Hays,  who  was  l)orn  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
October  22,  1865,  a  son  of  Nelson  S.  and  Emma  (Clift)  Hays.  The  family 
was  founded  in  America  in  the  early  colonial  days,  and  the  grandfather, 
James  Hays,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  period  passed  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  followed  contracting  and  building.  Socially  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Martha  Nelson,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  children:  Morris,  who  wedded  Elizabeth  Bowers 
and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade;  Nelson  S.;  Martha;  and  James,  Jr..  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  father  of  these  children  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  and  his  wife  was  called  to  her  final  home  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one. 

Nelson  S.  Hays,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  April  12,  1843,  and.  like 
his  father,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  mastered  in  all  its  details, 
becoming  an  expert  workman.  He  then  engaged  in  contracting  on  his  own 
account  and  erected  a  number  of  excellent  buildings  in  his  native  city".  On 
the  14th  of  November,  1864,  he  married  Emma  Clift.  and  to  them  were  born 
two  children:  Nelson  S.,  and  Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 
The  father's  death  occurred  January  4,  1883,  in  the  forty-first  year  of  his  age. 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   XEW   JERSEY.  213 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Jimior  Order  of  American  Mechanics.  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Red  Men,  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  exercised 
his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  RepuhHcan 
party. 

Xelson  Steward  Hays.  Jr..  resided  in  Philadelphia  and  attended  the  pulj- 
lic  schools  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  when  he  secured  a  position  in  a  notion 
house  in  that  city,  where  he  remained  for  five  years,  one  of  its  most  trusted 
employes.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  entered  the  sen-ice  of  the 
American  Pipe  ^lanufacturing  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  as  inspector,  and 
was  thus  employed  three  years,  after  which  he  spent  one  year  in  Iowa.  He 
then  returned  to  the  Keystone  state  and  resumed  his  connection  with  his 
former  employer,  being  stationed  at  Springfield.  Pennsylvania,  in  charge  of 
the  pipe-fitting  of  their  water-works.  The  task  was  completed  nine  months 
later.  He  then  went  to  Berkeley.  Virginia,  where  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
water-works  for  two  and  one-half  years.  In  1896  he  came  to  Wildwood  to 
accept  the  superintendency  of  the  water-works  at  this  place,  which  had  been 
begun  in  1895  and  completed  the  following  year. 

There  are  two  artesian  wells  here,  nine  hundred  feet  deep,  supplied  with 
two  pumps.  The  smaller  well  has  a  capacity  of  ninety-three  gallons  of 
water  per  minute  and  the  larger  one  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven  and 
one-third  eallons  of  water  per  minute.  There  is  a  stand-pipe  with  a  capacity 
of  sixty  thousand  gallons,  with  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  and  nineteen 
feet,  it  being  one  hundred  and  four  feet  to  the  surface  of  the  water.  The 
water  tower  is  the  highest  of  all  of  the  buildings  in  Wildwood  and  the  works 
altogether  are  one  of  the  most  complete  plants  in  the  state.  There  is  a 
pressure  of  forty-five  pounds  to  the  square  inch  when  the  tank  is  full.  The 
plant  is  operated  by  a  Buckeye  engine  of  thirty-horse  power,  and  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  Both  \\'ildwood  and  Holly  Beach  are 
supplied  with  water  and  Anglesea  will  soon  receive  its  water  supply  from  the 
same  source.  Mr.  Hays  has  entire  charge  of  the  water-works,  the  placing 
of  meters,  the  collections  and  the  operation  of  the  plant  and  is  most  faithful 
to  the  interests  of  the  company,  whose  confidence  he  enjoys  in  an  unlimited 
degree. 

^Ir.  Hays  has  been  twice  married.  He  first  wedded  Claire  Pawling, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated  Januan,-  22,  1886.  They  had  two  children, 
Hazel  B.  and  Frank,  but  the  latter  is  deceased.  For  his  second  wife  Air. 
Hays  chose  Lizzie  D.  Marts,  the  marriage  ceremony  being  performed  April 
12.  1898. 

Mr.  Hays  takes  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  everything  for  the  benefit 
of  the  town,  is  a  member  of  the  fire  department  and  is  the  secretary  of  the 


214  BlOCRAl'HICAL   IIISTURY   OF   THE   J-IRST 

boaril  of  health.  He  aiso  l)elong-s  to  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechan- 
ics and  to  the  United  States  Beneficial  Association,  and  in  politics  is  a  stanch 
Republican.    He  is  especially  efficient  in  the  position  which  he  now  occupies 

and  is  well  fitted  for  the  responsibility  that  de\'oi\-es  upon  him. 


ROBERT  N.  VAXXEMAN. 

Robert  Newell  V'anneman  is  now  serving"  as  the  sheriff  of  Salemcounty.to 
which  jjosition  he  was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1899  b}'  a  majorit}-  of  fortx'.  being 
the  only  Democrat  on  the  ticket  elected  at  that  time.  He  was  born  in  I'p- 
per  Penn's  Neck  township,  Salem  county,  July  29.  1864.  The  family  is  of 
Swedish  lineage  and  at  an  early  day  was  established  in  New  Jersey  and  in 
Philadelphia.  The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Dr.  \\'illiam  S.  and 
Caroline  (Cavender)  Vanneman,  who  resided  in  Philadelphia  in  early  life, 
but  afterward  removed  to  New  Jersey.  The  Doctor  became  one  of  the  well 
known  physicians  of  Salem  count}'  and  died  about  the  time  of  the  ci\il 
war.  He  had  two  children.  Edwin  A.  and  ]\[ary  C,  the  latter  now  a  resident 
of  Penn's  Grove:  the  former  was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born 
in  Philadelphia  in  1836,  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  married 
Josephine  Newell,  whose  l)irth  occurred  near  Salem.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  owned  a  valuable  tract  of  land  in  Upper  Penn's  Neck  town- 
ship. He  served  as  the  collector  of  his  township  for  many  years,  was  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  first  railroad  built  to  Penn's  Grove,  and  for  some  years 
prior  to  his  death  was  a  director  of  the  Salem  National  Bank.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  all  public  affairs  and  in  politics  was  a  stalwart  Democrat.  In 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  held  membership,  he  was  often 
called  to  serve  in  office.  His  death  occurred  in  1874,  and  the  community 
thereby  lost  one  of  its  valuable  and  respected  citizens.  Unto  Edwin  A.  and 
Josephine  (Newell)  Vanneman  were  born  four  children:  William  S..  the 
eldest,  is  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  is  now  a  medical 
missionary  to  Persia,  having  been  sent  to  that  coimtry  by  the  Presbyterian 
mission  of  New  York  city:  and  married  Alarguerite  A.  Fox,  of  Philadelphia: 
they  have  three  children. — Aimee.  Dorothy  and  Irene;  Robert  N.  is  the  next 
of  the  family;  Edwin,  a  resident  of  Salem,  married  Isabella  Zane  and  they 
have  three  children;  and  Joseph,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Mr.  X'anncman.  whose  name  introduces  this  re\iew.  accpiircd  his  educa- 
tion in  U])])er  Penn's  Neck  and  Penn's  Gro\e.  and  later  continued  his  studies 
in  the  Salem  Collegiate  Institute,  but  left  that  school  shortlv  before  the  time 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  215 

of  graduation  in  order  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  farm.  He  was  connected 
with  agricultural  pursuits  until  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  in  1899.  l)Ut 
his  attention  was  not  confined  entirely  to  the  work  of  the  farm.  For  two 
years  he  was  the  treasurer  of  the  Abbott  Banking  Company,  of  Manning- 
ton  township,  and  then  became  its  manager.  He  was  also  for  some  time 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  almshouse  of  Mannington  township.  He  has  al- 
ready proved  a  capable  and  efficient  officer,  his  duties  being  discharged  in  a 
most  competent  manner.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  party.  He  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county  central  committee  and  has  often  attended  the  countv  and 
state  conventions. 

Mr.  Vanneman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  L.  Harris,  a  daughter  of 
Amos  Harris,  of  Salem,  and  they  have  three  children, — Marian  J.,  Margaret 
H.  and  William  B.  Both  Mr.  and  ;\Irs.  Vanneman  are  highly  respected  in 
the  community  and  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  many  friends.  Socially  he  is 
connected  with  Washington  Lodge,  No.  21,  1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  order  of 
Heptasophs,  of  Salem,  and  is  highly  regarded  by  his  brethren  of  both  fra- 
ternities. 


ISAAC  S.  STRATTOX. 


The  name  of  Stratton  is  one  which  has  been  long  and  conspicuously 
identified  with  the  history  of  Gloucester  county,  and  is  one  in  which  each 
successive  generation  has  produccfl  men  of  honor  and  sterling  worth,^ 
men  who  have  honored  and  been  honored  by  the  state  which  gave  them 
birth,  and  which  has  figured  as  the  field  of  their  respective  endeavors  in  con- 
nection with  the  material  activities  which  have  ever  conserved  the  progress 
and  prosperity  of  the  commonwealth.  Through  many  years  the  name  of 
Stratton  has  been  interwoven  with  the  history  of  New  Jersey,  and  is  found 
upon  the  roll  of  those  who  have  occupied  the  chair  of  the  chief  executive 
of  the  state.  The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Jacob  and  Mary  (Riley) 
Stratton,  and  the  maternal  grandfather  was  Isaac  Sherwin,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Mullica  Hill.  Nathan  T.  and  Sarah  M.  (Sherwin)  Stratton  were 
the  parents  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  and  the  former  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  day  in  southern  New 
Jersey.  He  was  called  upon  to  fill  many  positions  of  public  trust,  and  in 
addition  to  minor  offices  represented  Gloucester  county  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture and  also  in  congress  in  the  sessions  of  1850  and  1852.  His  opponent 
for  the  last  named  position  was  Thomas  H.  Whitney,  whom  he  defeated  in  a 
vigorous  campaign.     Mr.  Stratton  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 


216  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

years,  and  liis  wife  passed  away  aI)out  1860.  Their  children  were:  Isaac  S. ; 
Col.  Edward  L.  Stratton.  a  resident  of  Mullica  Hill;  Marv  Lncretia.  the  wife 
of  Jacob  J.  Moore,  of  Alullica  Hill,  and  James  S.,  wIki  was  killed  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  in  the  battle  of  Petersburg,  while  serving  as  a  lieu- 
tenant in  Company  F,  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Infantry. 

Isaac  S.  Stratton  pursued  his  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Harrison  township,  and  subsequently  attended  a  boarding  school  in  Wil- 
mington, Delaware.  Upon  returning  home  he  assisted  his  father,  who  for 
many  years  was  the  proprietor  of  a  store  at  Mullica  Hill,  and  in  1859  he 
came  to  Swedesboro,  where,  in  company  with  Henry  C.  Garrison,  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandising.  They  conducted  a  general  store,  and  also  dealt 
in  coal,  lumber  and  builders'  materials.  Five  years  later  our  subject  was 
joined  by  his  father  and  brother,  and  the  business  was  then  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Stratton  Brothers  mitil  1886,  when  Isaac  Stratton  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  bookkeeper  in  Camden,  New  Jersey,  there  remaining 
for  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned  to  Swedesboro,  and 
for  six  years  was  sole  proprietor  of  a  general  mercantile  establishment.  In 
1894  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  still  occupies  that  position,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  marked  fairness  and  impartiality.  He  is  also  a 
commissioner  of  deeds,  and  in  addition  to  the  duties  of  those  ]Dositions  he 
carries  on  the  business  of  surveying,  conveyancing  and  insurance. 

On  the  third  of  August,  1858,  Mr.  Stratton  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Kate  L.  Wright,  a  daughter  of  Calvin  Wright,  formerly  of  Franklin 
county,  New  Jersey,  afterward  a  resident  of  Atlantic  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  at  the  time  of  Mrs.  Stratton's  marriage  was  acting  as  ]jrinci]5al  of  the 
Mullica  Hill  school,  in  which  his  daughter  held  the  position  of  assistant 
teacher.  Their  children  are:  Horatio  M.,  a  lumber  merchant  of  New  York, 
who  married  Ridie  Miller,  and  has  three  children, — Walter,  Rose  and  Leon, 
their  home  being  in  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey;  Laura,  who  is  the  wife  of  How- 
ard W.  Miller,  of  Paulsboro,  and  has  five  children, — Earl,  Beatrice,  Zeural, 
Howard  and  William;  Irene  H.,  who  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Hannold,  of 
Swedesboro;  Katie  L.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  George  W.  Barker,  an  itiner- 
ant minister,  and  has  two  children, — G.  Roland  and  Marjorie;  and  Isaac  S., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Mr.  Strat- 
ton and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  are  prominent 
and  highly  esteemed  people  of  the  community,  having  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  in  Swedesboro.  His  business  career  is  characterized  by 
absolute  honesty,  and  his  well  directed  efforts  have  brought  to  him  signal 
success.  As  a  citizen  he  is  loyal  and  true,  and  no  trust  reposed  in  him  has 
ever  been  betrayed. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  217 

JOSEPH  B.  COBB. 

In  this  period  of  tlie  world's  liistory  the  skilled  mechanic  occupies  a 
prominent  and  a  most  useful  place  in  the  economy  of  every-day  life  and 
public  progress.  The  blacksmith  was  one  of  the  original  mechanics  and 
since  the  iron  age  was  ushered  in  has  Ijeen  an  important  factor  in  mechan- 
ical development.  Through  all  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since  his  advent 
in  the  world,  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  march  of  mechanical  improvement 
and  has  been  a  useful  citizen,  honored  for  his  good  works,  wherever  his  lot 
has  been  cast.  As  a  pioneer  he  was  an  indispensable  factor  in  our  early  de- 
velopment, and  from  the  days  of  small  things  to  those  of  the  present  he  has 
wielded  a  powerful  influence  in  almost  every  community  in  the  Union. 
W'oodstown  has  had  its  historic  blacksmiths  and  it  has  its  skilled  and  influen- 
tial artisans  of  to-day.  One  of  the  best  known  of  these  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  constitutes  the  title  of  this  sketch. 

Joseph  Butcher  Cobl)  was  Ijorn  in  Sharpstown,  Salem  county.  New 
Jersey,  August  4,  1839,  a  son  of  Paul  and  Eliza  (Garretson)  Cobb,  and  his 
father,  who  was  a  blacksmith,  was  his  instructor  in  all  the  details  of  his  labor- 
ious but  increasing  trade.  Paul  Cobb's  life  spanned  the  period  from  October 
4,  1812,  to  February  2,  1880,  and  was  passed  primarily  in  Cape  May 
county.  New  Jersey,  and  partially  in  Salem  and  Gloucester  counties,  its 
closing  years  having  been  spent  in  Woodstown.  His  father  was  Paul  Cobb, 
who  was  born  in  Cape  May  county.  New  Jersey,  October  4,  1762,  and  died 
March  28,  1818.  Paul  Cobb.  Jr.,  had  one  brother,  John,  and  five  sisters, 
named  Rhoda,  Elizabeth,  Jane,  Rebecca  and  Priscilla.  He  married  Eliza 
Garretson,  a  daughter  Daniel  and  Sarah  Garretson,  of  Cape  May  county, 
New  Jerse}',  whose  brothers  and  sisters  were  named  Jane  R.,  Hannah,  Jon- 
athan and  Jacob.  The  children  of  Paul  Cobb,  Jr.,  and  his  wife,  Eliza  Garret- 
son, were  Amanda,  who  married  Charles  S.  Shull;  Daniel  G.,  a  resident  of 
Philadelphia;  Joseph  B.,  of  Woodstown;  John  W.,  of  Philadelphia;  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  Richman,  of  Philadelphia;  Eva  B.,  who  married  Amos 
Webster;  and  Anna  B. 

In  1857,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  Joseph  B.  Cobb  began  to  learn 
his  trade  of  his  father  and  brother,  in  the  former's  shop.  He  was  an  apt 
apprentice  and  made  such  progress  as  was  considered  altogether  favorable 
by  his  rather  critical  instructor,  who  at  length  pronounced  him  a  master  of 
his  trade.  He  was  married  before  he  was  twenty-two  and  for  a  year  after- 
ward worked  at  his  trade  at  W'hig  Lane,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  Then 
he  took  up  his  residence  at  Woodstown,  where  he  has  since  conducted  a 
blacksmithing  business  and  gained  a  reputation  as  one  of  the  leading  me- 


2i8  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

chanics  of  the  county  and  has  Ijecome  a  leading  citizen,  influential  and  help- 
ful in  all  measures  intended  for  the  public  good.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
first  board  of  councilmen  of  Woodstown  after  the  organization  of  the  place 
as  a  borough  and  has  since  been  elected  to  the  same  office.  He  was  a  charter 
member,  in  1871,  of  the  Senior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics. 

December  25,  i860,  Mr.  Cobb  married  Adeline,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Rebecca  (Dawson)  Strang,  who  has  borne  hiiu  children  who  were  named 
George  M.,  William  S.,  Anna  B..  Addison  L.,  Joseph  B.,  Ralph  A.,  Lottie 
G.  and  Bernard  H.  Mr.  Strang,  who  was  a  carpenter,  was  born  and  lived 
in  Glcaicester  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Mrs. 
Strang,  who  was  a  native  of  Gloucester  county,  bore  him  four  children: 
Adeline,  Mrs.  Cobb;  Sarah  Jane,  who  married  William  H.  Cawman,  Wil- 
liam C;  and  Robert  M.  .After  Mr.  Strang's  death  she  married  Mahlon 
Costil  and  bore  him  two  children,  Abbie,  wife  of  Levin  Tull;  and  Mahlon. 

.\s  a  public-spirited,  progressive  citizen  Mr.  Cobb  is  highly  regarded  by 
the  leading  men  of  Salem  county.  He  wields  considerable  political  in- 
fluence, especially  in  the  local  work  of  his  party,  and  is  always  active  in  the 
furtherance  of  such  measures  as  he  believes  will,  if  successful.  l)e  conduci\-e 
to  the  public  good.  All  in  all,  he  is  one  of  those  plain,  unpretentious  citi- 
zens who  exert  a  healthful  influence  upon  the  community  because  their  aims 
are  pure  and  their  eiTorts  are  earnest  and  persistent  along  ex'ery  avenue  to 
public  progress. 


THOMAS  H.  LONGACRE. 

Thomas  H.  Longacre.  a  farmer  of  \\'oolwich  township,  Gloucester 
county,  was  born  in  Logan  township,  that  county,  on  the  18th  of  April, 
i860,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Martha  (Holton)  Longacre.  The  ancestry 
of  the  family  can  be  traced  to  Andrew  Longacre.  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject.  His  grandparents  on  the  paternal  side  were  Israel  and 
Martha  (Seers)  Longacre,  and  the  maternal  grandparents  were  Thomas  and 
Phoebe  (Black)  Holton,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Black.  The 
parents  of  our  subject,  Peter  and  Martha  (Holton)  Longacre,  have  for  many 
years  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  in  Logan  township.  They 
have  four  children:  Thomas  H..  of  this  review:  Israel,  who  resides  in 
Swedesboro;  George,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father:  and  Ed- 
ward, who  resides  in  Swedesboro. 

Thomas  H.  Longacre  was  educated  in  the  jiublic  schools  of  his  nati\e 
township,  and  when  a  young  man  he  engaged  in  gardening  for  his  uncle. 
Samuel  Longacre.  for  two  rears.     He  then  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  219 

count,  cultivating  tlie  Israel  Black  farm  on  the  shares  for  two  _\-ears.  He 
then  took  charge  of  the  Charles  Locke  farm  near  \\'olfert  Station,  where 
he  continued  for  seven  years.  In  1892  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
forty-three  acres  and  has  since  heen  successfully  engaged  in  the  raising  of 
garden  vegetables,  for  which  he  finds  a  ready  sale  in  the  neighboring  mar- 
kets. He  has  made  a  close  study  of  the  business,  and  is  therefore  enabled 
to  plant  his  seeds  and  cultivate  his  ground  so  as  to  produce  the  best  possible 
results.  His  vegetables  are  of  an  excellent  quality  and  therefore  firing  to 
him  a  good  income. 

Mr.  Longacre  was  married  on  the  31st  of  August,  1883,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Eliza  E.  Locke,  a  daughter  of  Charles  H.  Locke,  who 
then  owned  the  farm  which  is  now  the  property  of  our  subject,  together 
with  the  adjoining  farm  of  Joseph  Sithens.  They  now  have  two  children, — ■ 
Howard  and  Edna.  Mr.  Longacre  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  Indolence  and  idleness  are  utterly 
foreign  to  his  nature,  the  success  he  has  achie\ed  l.ieing  the  result  of  his 
marked  industrv  and  cai3al)le  management. 


ANDREW  C.  RODE. 


Andrew  C.  Rode,  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Woolwich  township, 
Gloucester  county,  Xew  Jersey,  was  l)orn  January  31,  1853,  in  Walbursh, 
Coohesen,  Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eva  Elizabeth  (Bearshenk) 
Rode.  John  Rode  emigrated  with  his  family  to  this  country  when  his  son 
Andrew  C.  was  sixteen  months  old,  and  landed  here  with  one  thousand  and 
six  hundred  dollars  in  gold.  Stopping  for  a  week  in  Red  Bank,  New  Jersey, 
his  money  was  stolen  by  a  man  whom  he  had  considered  his  friend.  After 
suffering  this  misfortune  he  went  to  Bridgeport,  New  Jersey,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  whence  he  came  to  Swedesboro.  Here  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1873.  His  widow  still 
survives  him.  Their  family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely:  Andrew  C, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch:  Emma  Amelia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years:  Frank,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  Old  Man's  creek,  married  Anna  Pool  and  has  six  children, — 
John,  Frank,  Howanl  C,  Edna,  \\'arner  and  Helen:  Louise,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  months;  Mary,  who  married  John  \\'olfert,  of  ^^'olfert  Station, 
Xew  Jersey,  and  has  one  chilil,  Charles  C. 

Andrew  C.  Rode  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Woolwich  town- 
ship, Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  and  has  never  been  engaged  in  any 


220  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

other  occuiiatidii  tlian  fai"min<;'.  He  occujiies  tlie  old  homestead,  wliich 
came  into  his  possession  l)y  purcliase  in  1884. 

February  28,  1878,  lie  married  Miss  !vlary  iircnneis,  a  dau£!;hter  of 
Nicholas  Brenneis.  of  W'oolwich  township.  They  have  had  five  children, 
whose  names  in  order  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Lizzie,  Eva.  Walton,  Luella 
and  Henry.  Luella  died  at  the  age  of  three  months  and  Henry  at  the  age 
of  three  years. 

Mr.  Rode's  family  attend  worship  at  the  Presbyterian  ciiurch.  Politically 
he  harmonizes  witii  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  filled  acceptably  the  office 
of  overseer  of  roads  in  Woolwich  township.  He  is  identified  with  a  numlicr 
of  fraternal  organizations,  including  the  Red  Men,  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Ancient  Order  of  L^nited  Workmen  and  the  Grange. 


ELIJAH  BOWER. 


After  a  long  life  of  active  occupation  as  an  agriculturist,  Mr.  Bower  has 
retired  from  active  work,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labor  in  his 
pleasant  home  at  Swedesboro,  where  his  daughter  Elizabeth  superintends 
his  household  and  lovingly  ministers  to  his  comfort. 

^Ir.  Bower  was  born  in  W'oolwich  township.  March  5.  1824.  and  is  a 
son  of  Elijah  and  Theodosia  (Robbins)  Bower.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  whence  he  went  to  Salem,  in  the  same  state, 
where  he  was  married  and  remained  a  few  years.  In  181 5  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  \\'oolwich  township,  Gloucester  county,  on  which  he  settled  the  following 
year.  He  was  a  very  successful  farmer,  a  man  of  much  prominence,  and 
frequently  had  estates  placed  in  his  hands  for  settlement.  In  1829  he  co- 
operated with  Charles  C.  Stratton,  afterward  Go\-ernor  of  New  Jersey,  in 
building  the  long,  covered  bridge  leading  out  of  Swedes1)oro.  across  Rac- 
coon creek  toward  Woodbury,  which  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  finest  bridge 
structures  in  the  state.  He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  board  of 
freeholders  of  Gloucester  county,  and  in  1839-40  represented  his  district  in 
the  state  legislature.  He  lived  to  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-nine  years, 
dying  September  8,  1865.  his  wife  having  passed  away  February  21.  1842. 
aged  sixty-one  years.  The  parental  family  comprised  five  children.  Of 
these,  Elizabeth  died  when  ten  years  old:  Asher  married  Mary  Rulon.  but 
had  no  children,  and  died  in  1891,  aged  eighty-seven  years,  having  left  quite 
a  large  estate:  Benjamin  married  Amy  Rogers,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Elizabeth,  and  by  his  second  wife,  Lydia  Tonkin,  he  had  two  children  who 
died  in  childhood,  and  he  was  fifty  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death;  Mary 


8^ 


^3^      fLo^x^^x^^yn 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  221 

became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  R.  Gill,  who  is  tlie  father  of  John  R.  Gill:  and 
Elijah  was  the  young-est  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Bower  attended  the  district  schools  of  his  nati\e  township,  and  for 
one  year  was  a  student  in  a  school  at  Gwynedd.  Pennsylvania.  His  entire 
life  has  been  spent  in  farming,  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  from  1881 
to  1884,  wdien  he  was  the  manager  of  a  sanitarium  for  epileptics  in  Blooms- 
burg,  Pennsylvania.  In  189 1  he  gave  up  active  work,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Swedesboro,  although  he  still  owns  the  homestead  and  another 
farm  in  Logan  township. 

The  marriage  of  Elijah  Bower  and  Emily  Cooper  Gaskill  took  place 
October  17,  1850.  Mrs.  Bower  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Gaskill,  of  Logan 
township.  She  flied  January  28,  1899,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  The  children 
of  this  estimable  cou]:)le  were  five  in  number,  as  follows:  Ella  C.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  five  years:  Elizal)eth  Gaskill,  who  keeps  house  for  her  father: 
Emily  Catherine,  who  died  in  August,  1897,  ^"^1  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Seaver 
Chauncey  Ross,  of  Troy,  Pennsylvania,  now  residing  in  Gloucester  city. 
New  Jersey,  and  they  had  five  children, — Mary  Elizabeth,  Arthur  Berthold, 
Josephine  Henrietta,  Lillian  Eugenie  (deceased)  and  Anna  Theodosia:  Elijah 
Dallett,  who  resides  in  Swedesboro,  and  manages  one  of  his  father's  farms, 
married  Margaret  Fisher  Harrold  Gill,  a  daughter  of  John  R.  Gill,  of  Wool- 
wich township,  and  they  had  four  children,  the  eldest  dying  in  infancy,  and 
the  others  being  Elijah  Dallett,  Mary  Deveraux  and  Emily  Catherine;  and 
]\Iary  Gill,  who  married  Washington  Deveraux,  an  electrician  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  died  February  16,  1889. 

The  Bower  family  were  originally  Quakers,  but  are  now  Episcopalians. 
Air.  Bovver  being  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  church  at  Swedesboro.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Swedesboro  Grange,  and,  though  never  an  aspirant  for  pub- 
lic otTice,  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 


WILLIAM  J.  BENNETT. 

William  J.  Bennett  was  born  April  24,  1832.  in  Cape  May  city,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Phoebe  (Schellinger)  Bennett.  His  great-grandfather, 
John  Bennett,  was  a  Delaware  river  pilot  and  made  his  home  at  Cape  May 
throughout  his  life.  During  the  war  of  the  Revolution  he  served  his  coun- 
tr\-  in  the  capacity  of  pilot.  He  married  Mary  Hughes,  and  to  them  were 
born  six  children,  the  eldest  being  the  father  of  our  subject.  The  others 
were:  Sophia,  the  wife  of  Enoch  Jackson,  a  pilot:  George,  who  was  lost  at 
sea:  Louisa,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Merrett:  Mary  Ann,  the  wife  of  John  Rowland, 


222  BIOCR.II'IIICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

a  Delaware  ri\cr  ]>il(.)l;  and  (liarlotte,  who  Ijecame  the  secdinl  wife  of  John 
Rowland. 

William  Bennett,  the  father  of  onr  snl)ject.  was  alsci  a  pilot  on  the  T^ela- 
ware  and  thrt)ugiiont  his  life  maintained  his  residence  in  Cape  May.  He  was 
married  on  the  28th  of  August,  1830,  to  Phoebe  Schellinger,  and  to  them 
were  horn  the  following  children:  William  J.,  born  .\pril  24,  1832;  Lov- 
enia,  September  30,  1833;  George,  March  2j,  1836:  Emma  Learning. 
October  31,  1837;  Albert  G.  Reed,  October  24,  1839;  George,  January  i. 
1841;  John,  June  9,  1843;  James  K.  Polk,  February  15,  1847;  Mary  L.. 
November  30,  1848;  Socrates  Learning,  April  8,  1850:  Judson  Xewell. 
November  18,  1851;  Judson  Newell  (2nd),  February  2,  1853:  and  Socrates 
T.,  March  12,  1855. 

William  J.  Bennett,  of  this  review,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cape 
May  and  early  became  an  apprentice  as  a  pilot,  serving  for  seven  and  one- 
half  years.  Throughout  his  entire  business  career  he  has  been  a  pilot  on  the 
.Delaware  river  and  bay, — a  period  of  more  than  a  half  century.  During  that 
time  he  has  had  many  exciting  experiences,  often  fraught  with  great  dan- 
ger, (^ne  of  the  most  perilous  trips  that  he  e\er  made  was  during  the 
memorable  blizzard  of  March  12.  1888,  when  so  manv  lives  and  vessels  were 
lost.  In  October,  1894,  Mr.  Bennett  had  a  narrow-  escape  with  his  life  in 
an  Italian  ship  named  Francisco  R.,  during  a  heavy  gale.  Both  the  anchor 
chains  were  broken  and  the  vessel  was  driven  ashore  on  the  rocks  of  Dela- 
ware bay,  the  seas  washed  over  her  all  night,  each  sea  threatening  to  be  the 
last  and  fatal  one.  Mr.  Bennett,  the  pilot,  could  not  make  the  Italians  under- 
stand his  orders  and  he  had  one  of  the  worst  times  of  his  life.  Finally  he  and 
all  the  crew,  excepting  one  man — twelve  men — rowed  eight  or  ten  miles 
amidst  the  breakers  to  shore  in  a  manner  apparently  impossible, — seemingly 
"providential."  The  one  man  left  refused  to  go  ashore  and  remained  on  the 
vessel,  which  was  fast  going  to  pieces.  He  was  ne\'er  heard  from  afterward. 
Mr.  Bennett  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  cai)able  pilots  on  the  river,  exercis- 
ing the  greatest  care  in  guiding  the  course  of  the  various  craft  that  sail  to 
and  from  the  harbors  along  the  Delaw-are.  Pie  is  a  member  of  the  Dela- 
ware River  Pilots'  Association  and  of  the  Pilots'  Society. 

On  the  1 2th  of  February,  1855,  Mr.  Bennett  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Henrietta  Hand,  a  daughter  of  Recompense  Hand,  who  also  was  a  pilot  on 
the  Delaware  river.  Her  grandfather.  Recompense  Hand,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Cape  May  county  and  became  an  extensive  farmer,  having  a  large  tract  of 
land  at  Rio  Grande,  where  his  death  occurred  after  he  had  attained  an  ad- 
vanced age.  His  children,  se\'en  in  number,  were  Philip.  Gideon,  Elijah. 
Rebecca.  Rachel,  L_\-dia  and  .\chsah.     Recompense  Hand,  Jr..  the  father  of 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  223 

Mrs.  Beimett.  was  born  in  Rio  Grande,  in  1794.  and  became  a  Delaware 
pilot.  He  erected  the  fourth  liouse  in  tlie  town  of  Cape  May  and  spent  the 
remauKier  of  h,s  life  there,  his  death  occurring  at  his  hom'e  on  Lafavette 
street.  He  owned  considerable  property  and  at  the  time  of  his  demise  had 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land  near  the  beach:  he  had  also 
sold  much  of  his  land,  but  to  each  of  his  children  he  left  a  tract  of  consider- 
able value.  H,s  political  support  was  given  to  the  Democracy,  and  in  re- 
ligious belief  he  was  a  Presbyterian,  a  zealous  worker  in  the  interests  of  the 
church.  His  hfe  ^yas  upright  and  honorable  and  commanded  the  respect  of 
all  who  knew  him.  He  married  Nancy  Schenck,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Schenck 
a  physician  at  Cold  Springs,  and  one  of  the  oldest  medical  practitioners  of  the 
county.  He  came  to  Cape  May  county  with  three  brothers.  All  four  were 
physicians  and  all  four  became  wealthy  men.  Dr.  Schenck.  the  great-grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Bennett,  had  six  children:  Robert,  who  resided  in  North 
Carolina,  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel  and  was  lost  at  sea;  William  resided  at 
>      M  1    ?"^''  ""  ''''^™'   '^'^  ^"^^  °^  Edward   Craft,  of  New  York 

wife  of  Wimam  Cassidy.  a  carpenter  at  Cape  May:  and  Nancy  married  Re- 
compense Hand.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hand  were"  born  ten  children      Rob- 

Se;rs'!ifphlMT"t-^""xi''""'"^^=  '''''  ^'-  ^^^'^  "— d  Matilda 
Meers.  of  Philadelphia;  Henry  H..  who  married  Eliza  Duke;  Recompense 
who  married  Martha  Thompson;  William  F..  who  married  Ann  M   Tom  in 
Na^cy,  the  wife  of  Richar.l  Thompson;  Henrietta,  the  wife  of  our  s.^T  "' 
Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Carson;  Joseph,  who  married  Josephine  War  : 

:?i'h^-ctm::r  "-"^  ""^"-  -^  ^^^  -  --^ -—  ^-  -^ 

Mr  and  Mrs^  Bennett  have  had  ten  children:  Judson  N..  who  was  born 
D  c  mber  17,  1856,  and  was  a  Delaware  pilot,  married  Lillian  Johnston  and 
la  three  children -Ella.  Harvey  and  Walter;  Ella,  born  March  2,  1850 
-  he  wife  of  J  Charies  ,Moore.  a  telegraph  operator  of  Chicago  and  thei; 
children  are  Mane  and  Dudley;  Judson  D.,  born  February  18,  :86i     r" 

Annie  and  Henrietta;  Annie  T..  born  July  22,  1865,  died  August  ^.  1867' 
Elizabeth  H..  born  May  26.  1869.  married  Ashton  J.  WilHams.  "of  Phil-' 
adelphia.  who  is  a  clerk  in  a  pilots'  association,  having  offices  in  that  city  and 
hey  have  one  child,  Anna;  George  W.,  deceased,  born  May  29,  1871    W 

Sie  bI;    r  ""Tr  T'  :'''•  '  ^  ^^^^^-^^^  ^^  ^^^^  Ma/lnd  m;n  ■ 
Lizzie  Bohn.   Louis  Cleveland,   deceased,  born  September  30,   1876-  and 
Lewis  S.,  born  December  19.  1877.  ^   ' 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  have  a  beautiful  residence  in  Cape  May.  where  he 


224  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

owns  consideraljle  \-alua1)le  ]M()i>ei"ty.  He  was  fonnerly  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Good  Templars'  societ\'.  Dur- 
ing the  civil  war  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  home  guards.  He  is  now 
connected  with  the  Cape  May  Building  &  Loan  Association,  and  in  his 
religious  belief  is  a  Baptist.  During  his  long  service  on  the  river  he  has 
formed  a  wide  acquaintance  and  Mr.  Bennett  is  to-day  one  of  the  popular 
representatives  of  his  chosen  calling  in  this  section  of  the  country. 


CHARLES  V.  ARMSTRONG. 

Charles  V'anaman  Armstrong  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and  prom- 
inent citizens  of  Alloway,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  and  his  energy  and 
perseverance  have  placed  him  in  an  enviable  position  among  the  business 
men  of  to-day.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Allen  (Lipsey)  Armstrong,  and 
was  born  in  this  village  July  14.  i860.  His  grandfather,  Francis  Armstrong, 
li\'ed  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  America  and  resided  in  Woodstown  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  and  died  there  when  in  his  eightieth  year.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  husbandry  in  Mannington  township  and  was 
actively  interested  in  the  success  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  at  Woodstown  and  was  a  zealous  worker  for  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  He  married' Jane  Orr,  who  bore  him  a  large  number 
of  children,  as  follows:  James,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Andrew,  a  minister 
in  the  Baptist  church,  having  a  pastorate  in  Avon,  New  Jersey,  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  preaching,  although  eighty-four  summers  have  passed 
over  his  head;  Samuel,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Camden,  where  he  died;  Mary, 
who  married  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Pomeroy;  Frank,  who  was  the  father  of 
Judge  Edward  Ambler  Armstrong,  of  Camden,  and  was  twice  the  speaker 
of  the  house  of  representatives;  Eliza,  who  married  a  Mr.  Dare;  and  John, 
who  is  a  contractor  and  builder  of  Oakland,  California. 

James  Armstrong  was  b&rn  in  the  Emerald  Isle  and  followed  his  parents 
to  this  country.  He  was  a  ship-builder  by  trade,  but  was  a  resident  of 
Alloway  at  the  time  of  his  death.  During  the  iwar  of  the  rebellion  he  was 
employed  in  the  contracting  department,  building  bridges,  etc.  He  was 
a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  a  good,  true  man. 
He  married  Miss  Allen  Lipsey,  who  presented  him  with  seven  children, 
viz.:  Mary  Ann,  the  wife  of  Robert  Hewitt,  a  farmer  of  Woodstown,  and 
the  mother  of  one  child,  named  Walter;  Jane,  who  married  Alfred  Kiger.  a 
canncr  of  Daretown,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, — Nellie  and  John; 
William  and  Eliza,  who  died  in  childhood;  Margaret,  who  died  at  the  age 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  225 

of  fourteen  years;  Emma  F..  who  married  Miller  Jenkins,  a  farmer,  by 
whom  she  had  five  children, — ^Willie,  Charles,  Raymond,  Walter,  and 
Bertha,  who  died  in  January,  1897;  and  Charles  V. 

Charles  V.  Armstrong  received  his  educational  training  in  the  public 
schools  of  Alloway.  Following  this  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade 
for  about  twelve  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  canning  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  is  still  engaged,  being  at  present  the  superintendent  of 
the  Alloway  Canning  Company,  of  which  Luke  F.  Smith  is  the  proprietor. 
He  makes  an  able  and  efficient  manager  of  the  plant,  as  he  has  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  work  and  retains  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  those 
under  his  charge. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  married  February  11,  1891,  the  lady  whom  he 
chose  to  share  with  him  the  vicissitudes  of  life  being  Miss  Elizabeth  W. 
Strang,  of  the  village  of  Alloway.  In  general  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  intelligent  in  forming  his  opinion  on  the  political  outlook.  For  the  past 
ten  years  he  has  been  the  tax  collector  for  Alloway  township,  keeping  his 
records  in  a  clear,  concise  manner  and  accounting  for  every  pennv  of  money 
received  by  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Oak  Lodge, 
No.  85;  Alloway  Lodge,  No.  187.  L  O.  O.  F.;  Woodstown  Lodge.  No.  138. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.:  and  Brealey  Chapter,  No.  6.  Except  in  the  chapter,  he  has 
filled  every  office  in  all  these  lodges.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  State 
Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Association.  He  is  an  enterprising,  public-spirited 
man  who  loses  no  opportunity  in  working  for  the  interest  of  Alloway  and  is 
respected  and  esteemed  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


CHARLES  WAY. 


Not  a  man  of  local  repute  alone  in  business,  but  known  also  in  commer- 
cial circles  throughout  the  state,  Mr.  Way's  name  is  synonvmous  with  honor- 
able dealing.  His  life  has  Ijeen  one  of  untiring  activity  and  has  been 
crowned  with  a  degree  of  success  attained  by  comparatively  few.  He  is 
one  of  the  highest  type  of  business  men,  and  none  more  than  he  deserves 
a  fitting  recognition  among  the  men  whose  hardy  genius  and  splendid 
abilities  have  achieved  results  that  are  the  admiration  of  all.  In  his  financial 
success,  unblemished  business  record  and  steadily  expanding  field  of  useful- 
ness in  life's  pursuits.  New  Jersey  may  well  feel  a  personal  pride  and  interest. 
He  is  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word  a  representative  man.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  families  of  New  Jersey  and  was  born 
in  New  York  city.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Palmer  M.  and  Ann  Amelia  (Wilson) 
n— o 


226  BIOGRAPUICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Way.  To  tlie  puljlic-scliool  system  of  Cape  JNIay  county  lie  is  indebted  for  tlie 
educational  ])rivileges  which  he  received.  When  about  eighteen  year.s  of  age 
he  init  aside  his  text-books  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed at  Ocean  \'iew.  Later  he  engaged  in  business  in  South  Seaville.  ac- 
cepting a  clerkship  in  his  father's  store,  and  w'hen  he  had  mastered  the 
principles  of  commercial  interests  he  was  admitted  to  a  partnership  and  on 
his  father's  death  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  general  mercantile  store, 
which  he  still  conducts.  He  carries  a  large  and  complete  stock  of  goods,  and 
his  efforts  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  public,  his  reasonable  prices  and  his 
straightforward  dealing  have  secured  to  him  a  very  liberal  patronage. 

Air.  Way  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party  and  is  deeply  interested  in  its  success, 
yet  has  never  sought  or  desired  political  preferment.  He  is  connected  with 
Cannon  Lodge,  No.  104,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  South  Seaville.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Hereford  Lodge.  L  O.  O.  F..  at  Cape-May  Court  House.  He  is  a 
consistent  and  zealous  member  of  Calvary  Baptist  church,  is  serving  on  its 
board  of  trustees  and  for  several  years  has  been  its  treasurer.  His  home 
relations  are  very  pleasant,  as  he  was  happily  married  to  Jennie  F.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Emma  (Hand)  Swain.  They  now  have  two  interesting 
children, — Mabel  E.  and  Helen  L.  Their  acquaintance  is  wide  and  they 
enjoy  the  warm  friendship  of  many  by  reason  of  tlieir  estimaljle  qualities. 


WILLL\M    RODE. 


William  Rode,  one  of  Swedesboro's  most  successful  business  men,  was 
I)orn  in  Walburg,  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  November  21.  1852.  and  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Anna  Katherine  (Bieerschenk)  Rode. 

Mr.  Rode's  paternal  grandfather  had  a  family  composed  of  the  following 
named  members:  William,  who  died  in  Germany,  was  for  several  years  a 
burgomaster  there  and  whose  son  Henry  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do  citi- 
zens of  Brooklyn.  New  York;  Andrew,  who  came  to  the  L^iiited  States  in 
1859  and  soon  bought  the  Shivler  farm  near  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  lived  till  his  death  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years;  his  wife  died  in  1879. 
at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years;  Gertrude,  who  married  and  died  in  Germany; 
George,  deceased,  was  a  blacksmith  in  Germany;  John,  who  was  the  father 
of  Andrew  C.  Rode,  whose  biography  appears  in  this  work;  and  Gustav,  wJio 
is  still  living  in  Germany.  The  children  of  Andrew  and  Anna  Katherine 
(Bieerschenk)  Rode  were:  William,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch;  An- 
nie, wife  of  George  Wolfert,  a  farmer,  of  Mickleton,  New  Jersey;  Emil,  who 


^^^^^      l^oJU^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJV  JERSEY.  227 

is  an  invalid ;  ant!  Charles,  who  is  a  commission  merchant  of  Philadeli)hia, 
married  Catherine  Bauscher  and  has  two  children. — George  and  Lewis. 

William  Rode  had  just  enrolled  as  a  pupil  in  the  public  schools  of  Ger- 
many when  his  parents  decided  upon  emigration  to  this  country.  After 
their  settlement  in  Woolwich  township.  Gloucester  countv.  New  Jersey. 
he  attended  the  Oak  Grove  school  in  this  township  and  also  was  for  a  time 
a  student  in  the  Swedesboro  Academy.  From  earlv  bovhood  he  assisted 
in  the  work  on  the  farm,  and  when  still  in  his  minoritv  began  Iniving  ])Utter 
and  eggs  and  marketing  them  in  Philadelphia.  This  business  has  grown 
under  his  careful  management  until  now  he  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  all  kinds 
of  farm  produce,  which  he  takes  by  teams  to  Philadelphia.  His  place  of 
business  in  the  city  has  been  at  Xo.  16  Callowhill  street  for  over  twenty-five 
years.  In  1876  he  purchased  of  John  Peirson  eleven  acres  of  land  where  he 
now  resides  in  the  suburbs  of  Swedesboro,  and  subsequently  bought  the 
Taylor  Haines  farm  of  forty  acres,  on  which,  together  with  sixty  acres  of  the 
old  homestead  farm,  he  does  a  general  truck-farming  business.  He  also  does 
an  extensive  business  in  Swedesboro,  including  trade  in  coal,  wood,  man- 
ure, etc..  which  he  brings  up  Raccoon  creek  bv  boat. 

Mr.  Rode  was  married  July  15.  1875.  to  Miss  Fannie  Resting,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Christian  Resting,  of  Clarksboro,  Xew  Jersey.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  namely:  Wilhelmina  Catherine,  who  married  Harry  T.  Ford,  and 
has  one  child,  Helen;  George  A.,  who  with  his  brother.  Otto,  is  engaged 
in  running  the  boats  "Theresa"  and  "Jane  Teed"  on  the  Raccoon  creek  be- 
tween Philadelphia  and  Swedesboro,  carrying  coal,  produce,  etc. ;  Catherine 
Mary;  Otto  Christian,  who  married  Miss  Elsie  Hancock,  of  Swedesboro,  and 
has  one  child,  Marvin  H.;  Clara  Louisa;  Ida  Mary;  Howard,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  and  a  half  years:  William  J.  and  Frances  Resting. 

Mr.  Rode  and  family  are  members  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  of 
Swedesboro.  Since  he  was  twent}'-one  he  has  been  a  memljer  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  and  of  the  R.  of  P.,  and  he  is  also  identified  with  the  A.  O.  LT.  W.  and 
Heptasophs,  all  of  Swedesboro.  His  political  views  are  those  advocated  bv 
the  Republican  party,  and  he  has  held  the  office  of  overseer  of  roads  in  Wool- 
wich township. 


HOWARD  V.  LOCRE. 


Howard  V.  Locke  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers 
of  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey.  He  was  born  in  Woolwich  township, 
and  is  a  son  of  Lawrence  and  Anna  Mariah  (Paul)  Locke.     His  education 


228  BlOGRAl'lllCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  and  since  an  early  age  he  has  been 
familiar  with  the  work  of  the  farm.  Almost  as  soon  as  old  enough  he  began 
to  follow  the  plow  and  through  the  summer  months  ])erformed  such  labors 
as  the  season  demanded  until  after  the  crops  were  harvested  in  the  autumn. 
For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  had  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  and  the 
well  tilled  fields  indicate  his  enterprise  and  progressive  business  methods. 
He  is  also  general  agent  of  the  Chicopee  Fertilizer  Company,  and  during 
the  w  inter  months,  when  the  work  of  the  farm  is  practically  over,  he  attends 
to  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  agencies  in  southern  New  Jersey. 
In  this  branch  of  his  business  he  has  been  highly  successful. 

Air.  Locke  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  Masons  in  Gloucester  county, 
his  membership  being  in  the  Swedesl)oro  Lodge,  No.  157,  F.  &  A.  M..  in 
which  he  is  a  past  master;  Siloam  Chapter,  No.  19,  R.  A.  M.;  Cyrene  Com- 
mandery,  No.  7,  of  Camden;  and  Lulu  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Phila- 
delphia. He  has  also  been  a  member  of  Osceola  Lodge,  L  O.  O.  F.,  of 
Swedesboro,  for  twenty-six  years,  and  is  a  past  noble  grand.  In  his  political 
connections  Mr.  Locke  is  an  earnest  Republican,  believing  most  firmly 
in  the  principles  and  ultimate  triumph  of  his  party.  He  has  served  his 
township  as  committeeman  for  ten  years  and  is  frequently  spoken  of  in 
connection  with  county  and  state  offices,  yet  has  no  political  aspirations, 
content  to  devote  his  time  and  energies,  as  he  finds  opportunity,  to  promot- 
ing the  party's  interests  without  official  reward  for  his  services.  His  entire 
life  has  been  passed  in  this  locality  and  his  career  has  been  an  upright  one, 
worthy  of  the  warmest  regard  which  is  extended  him  by  his  many  friends. 


CHARLES  ROYAL  HIRES. 

The  bearer  of  this  name  scarcely  needs  an  introduction  to  the  residents 
of  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  as  he  has  grown  to  manhood  in  their  midst 
and  is  a  member  of  a  family  that  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  pros- 
perity and  greatest  achievements  of  the  county.  He  was  born  February 
I,  1873,  at  Quinton,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  Hires,  Avho  has  made  a  brilliant 
record  as  a  business  man  of  more  than  ordinary  acumen,  and  whose  life 
is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 

Charles  R.  Hires  attended  the  public  schools  of  Quinton  and  then  en- 
tered the  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College,  graduating  in  the  class  of 
1891.  He  then  entered  the  employment  of  Hires  &  Company  and  remained 
with  them  four  years,  until   1896.     The  free  life  of  the  agriculturist  had 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   XEIJ'   JERSEY.  229 

always  appealed  to  his  fancy  and  shortly  after  being  married  he  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Mannington  township,  which  he  has  since  made  his  home,  ex- 
hibiting a  taste  and  adaptability  for  the  occnpation  he  has  chosen  that 
might  well  be  attributed  to  an  older  head.  This  place,  now  known  by  the 
name  of  Hiresdale  Dairy  Farm,  has  been  improved  and  received  his  closest 
personal  supervision  until  it'  is  said  to  be  the  finest  and  best  in  Salem 
county.  He  pursues  a  general  line  of  farming,  but  is  also  deej^ly  interested 
in  dairying  and  keeps  a  herd  of  fifty-five  Jersey  cows.  As  in  other  matters 
pertaining  to  farm  work,  he  lias  made  a  study  of  the  needs  and  rec[uirements 
of  his  place  and  has  carried  on  the  work  in  an  intelligent  and  judicious 
manner,  and  is  reaping  the  fruits  of  his  wisdom  in  handsome  profits. 

Mr.  Hires  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Annie  Frances  Fogg, 
daughter  of  Robert  S.  Fogg,  a  prominent  and  substantial  business  man  of 
this  county,  whose  biography -it  is  our  privilege  to  print  on  another  page. 
This  ceremony  was  solemnized  March  4,  1896,  and  it  was  at  this  time  Mr. 
Hires  turned  his  attention  to  rural  life  and  the  pursuits  of  husbandry.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  at  Ouinton.  Puritan 
Castle,  No.  10.  and  is  a  member  of  the  Salem  Country  Cluli.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  his  politics  but  is  not  an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  He  is 
of  genial,  social  disposition  and  is  personally  very  popular,  while  his  ability 
and  judicious  management  of  his  business  has  commanded  the  admiration 
and  respect  of  the  commercial  world,  who  have  given  him  their  hearty 
indorsement  and  praise. 


JAMES  J.  DA\^IDSON. 

A  man's  reputation  is  liis  choicest  property.  The  laws  of  nature  have 
forbidden  isolation,  and  communication  necessitates  a  good  reputation. 
Every  human  being  submits  to  the  controlling  influence  of  others  and  also 
wields  a  power  for  good  or  evil  on  the  masses  of  mankind.  There  can  be 
no  improprietv  in  justly  scanning  the  acts  of  any  man  as  they  aftect  his 
])ublic.  social  and  business  relations.  If  he  be  honest  and  successful  in  his 
chosen  field  of  endeavor,  investigation  will  brighten  his  fame  and  point 
the  path  in  which  others  may  follow.  One  whose  record  will  bear  the 
closest  scrutiny  and  stand  the  test  of  public  criticism  is  James  Justice  David- 
son, who  is  numbered  among  the  valued  residents  of  Swedesboro.  where 
he  is  now  acceptably  filling  the  position  of  postmaster. 

Mr.  Davidson  was  born  in  Clarksboro,  New  Jersey.  September  3.  1846, 
a  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Justice)  Davidson.     His  paternal  grandfather  was 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   TUP    I-'IRST 

a  Methodist  niiiii-lcr.  ;iii(i  had  se\eii  chikh-en,  namely:  Thomas;  John; 
Samuel;  Isaac;  Eliz.ihe'lh.  the  wife  of  John  Hewes;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  John 
D.  Norton;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  .William  Norton.  The  father  of  our 
subject  also  was  a  local  Methodist  mmister.  He  was  l)orn  in  1812.  on  the 
farm  near  Swedeshoro  now  occupied  hy  .Mhert  Heritage,  and  his  death 
occin-rcil  in  i8(_)5.  lie  married  Ann  Justice,  who  was  l)orn  in  181 1,  and 
died  in  1878.  In  their  family  were  ten  children,  but  five  of  the  number  died 
in  early  childhood.  Those  living  are:  Thomas,  a  produce  shipper  of. 
Swedeshoro;  Kiizaljeth.  the  widow  of  James  Layton  and  a  resident  of  Penn 
Grove,  New  Jersey;  Sarah,  the  widow  of  William  Henry  Beckett  and  a 
resident  of  Swedeshoro;  James  Justice:  and  INIulford.  a  farmer  of  \Voohvich 
township,  Gloucester  county. 

In  taking  up  tiie  ]iersonal  histor}-  of  James  Justice  Da\idson  we  present 
to  our  readers  the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and  favorably  know'u. 
He  accpiired  his  education  in  the  Battenton  ])ublic  schools  and  the  Swedes- 
l)oro  .Academw  and  has  largely  added  to  his  fund  of  general  information 
by  pri\-ate  study,  reading  and  careful  observation  of  current  events.  Upon 
leaving  scliool  he  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years,  after  which  he  l^egan 
shipping  produce  over  the  W'est  Jersey  Railroad,  and  successfully  conducted 
that  business  for  five  years.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  that  line  in  Swedeshoro 
and  inaugurated  what  has  come  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  industries 
of  the  town,  a  fact  which  stands  in  evidence  of  his  keen  business  foresight. 
His  earl}'  life  having  been  spent  u])on  a  farm  and  having  a  strong  love  for 
agriculture,  he  abandoned  the  shipping  business  and  again  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  in  which  work  he  continued  until  1885, 
when  he  erected  a  large  stone  residence  on  ]\Iain  street  in  Swedeshoro.  He 
took  up  his  abode  there  and  has  since  made  it  his  home,  luit  he  still  owns 
two  fine  t.irm,^  in  \\'oolwich  township.  He  is  a  progressive  farmer,  and 
through  his  instrumentality  many  innovations  in  the  methods  of  sowing, 
transplanting,  seeding,  cultivating,  harvesting  and  marketing  garden  ]M"od- 
ucts  have  been  introduced  in  southern  New  Jerse}'. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1870,  Mr.  Davidson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  T.  Rulon,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Rulon.  of  W'oolwich 
township,  Gloucester  county.  Two  children  were  born  unto  them,  but 
Lenora  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  James  Justice,  their  onI\'  son.  is 
a  student  in  scliool.  and  remains  with  his  ]iarents  at  their  jjleasant  home  in 
Swedeshoro. 

In  1883  Mr.  Dax'idson  was  a])i)ointed  the  jjostmaster  of  that  town,  ser\'- 
ing  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  in  1893  he  \vas  reappointed.  During  both 
terms  lit  conducted  the  afifairs  of  the  office  in  a  manner  higlilv  creditable 


COKGRESSION.-IL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  231 

to  himself  and  satisfactory  to  the  patrons.  His  ]M-ominence  and  influence 
in  the  Democratic  party  imposed  upon  him  the  position  of  leader  in  its 
ranks,  and  in  1890  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  where  he  served  so 
acceptably  that  upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  was  re-elected, — an  honor 
rarely  conferred  upon  a  Democrat  in  his  district.  While  a  member  of  the 
legislature  Mr.  Davidson  won  for  himself  the  warm  regard  not  only  of  his 
own  constituents  but  of  the  people  in  the  entire  state.  He  took  an  active 
part  m  the  work  of  the  house,  and  was  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage 
of  the  stone  road  bill,  which  is  also  known  as  the  Davidson  bill.  The  im- 
portance of  this  measure  cannot  well  be  overestimated,  it  being  in  perfect 
accord  with  the  spirit  of  rapid  transit,  a  subject  which  is  receiving  world- 
wide attention,  and  the  benefit  of  which  cannot  be  secured  to  the  rural 
district  only- through  the  medium  of  good  roads.  This  measure  has  also 
become  of  more  or  less  national  importance,  as  the  bill  securing  it  has 
served  as  the  precedent  in  other  states.  The  question  of  state  appropria- 
tion for  county  roads  had  been  widely  discussed,  meeting  with  the  approval 
of  the  people  generally,  but  with  the  opposition  of  the  professional  politi- 
cian. The  bill  was  finally  drafted,  appropriating  twenty  thousand  dollars 
for  such  a  purpose.  Foreseeing  that  this  amount  would  not  be  sufihcient 
to  give  the  system  a  proper  test,  Mr.  Davidson  succeeded  in  getting  the 
amount  raised  to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  took  charge  of  the  bill  in 
the  house,  also  secured  its  passage  in  the  senate,  and  a  promise  previously 
obtained  from  the  governor  made  his  signature  to  the  bill  certain.  Thus 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  good  roads  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey  have  become 
a  lasting  memorial  to  his  honest  and  persistent  endeavors  to  represent 
]iroperiy  the  interests  of  the  people  during  his  terms  of  of^fice  in  the  legislative 
Ijody  of  his  state.  He  \vas  also  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  stone 
road  for  Swedesboro.  and  held  the  office  of  supervisor  during  its  construc- 
tion. 

Of  large  means  and  influence  and  thoroughly  acquainted  w4th  public 
afYairs,  Mr.  Davidson  is  ever  ready  to  inaugurate  and  promote  the  welfare 
of  the  community.  Altliough  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  Democratic  party, 
he  is  above  all  an  American  citizen  and  holds  public  good  above  partisanship 
and  places  general  prosperity  and  progress  abc^ve  self-aggrandizement.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  marked  business  and  executive  ability,  of  keen  foresight 
and  discrimination,  forms  his  plans  rapidly,  is  determined  in  their  execu- 
tion, and  is  rarely  mistaken  in  a  matter  of  business  policv.  He  is  a  valued 
representative  of  the  public  life  and  political  interests  of  Gloucester  county, 
and  with  pleasure  we  present  this  record  of  his  career  to  the  readers  of  this 
\'olume. 


232  BIOGR.irinCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

JOHN  F.  HARNED. 

John  F.  Harned.  a  prominent  attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  having 
an  office  at  424  ^Market  street,  Camden,  was  born  in  this  city,  March  j8. 
1857,  a  son  of  Henr}'  P.  and  Harriet  (Parkerson)  Harned.  Jonathan,  the 
father  of  Henn,'  P.,  was  born  in  New  York  city,  a  son  of  Jonathan.  Sr..  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  who  w^as  taken  prisoner  by  the  English  at 
the  battle  of  Monmouth  and  carried  to  Jamaica.  While  held  by  the  British 
Jonathan,  Sr.,  learned  the  trade  of  tailor,  and  after  his  return  to  New  "S'ork 
opened  a  tailoring  estaBlishment.  and  did  a  successful  Inisiness  until  his 
death.  He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  years.  Jonathan.  Jr., 
was  for  a  time  a  wool  merchant  in  New  York,  and  then  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five. 

Henry  P.  Harned  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-maker  in  Philadelphia, 
worked  at  it  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  journeyman,  and  then  went  into 
business  for  himself.  He  is  now  about  eighty  years  of  age,  and  since  1885 
he  has  lived  in  retirement.  Harriet  Harned,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Norwich, 
England,  a  daughter  of  Francis  Parkerson,  a  blacksmith.  Mr.  Parkerson, 
who  was  the  father  of  five  children,  spent  the  later  years  of  his  life  in  America, 
first  settling-  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  afterward  residing  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  passing  his  last  days  in  Camden,  where  he  died  in  1893.  at  the 
age  of  ninety-nine  years  and  six  months.  Henry  P.  Harned  had  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living,  namely:  Henry  B.,  an  architect  in  Chicago, 
Illinois;  Thomas  B.,  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Camden  bar;  Frank 
P.,  a  manufacturing  chemist,  doing  business  in  Philadelphia  while  residing 
in  Merchantville;  and  John  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  mother  died 
in  1892,  at  the  age  of  three  score  years  and  ten.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
First  Unitarian  church  of  Philadelphia.  The  father  was  a  vestryman  of  St. 
John's  Episcopal  church  of  Camden  and  one  of  those  who  assisted  in  pro- 
curing the  Seamen's  Chapel  for  use  as  a  church. 

John  F.  Harned  received  his  early  education  in  the  city  schools.  Leaving 
school  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  he  went  to  work  as  an  office  boy  in  the  Chester 
Sugar  Refinery.  A  short  time  after  he  obtained  employment  in  the  office  of 
the  West  Jersey  Press  and  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  printer.  During  this  time  he  was  an  evening  attendant  at  the 
Franklin  Institute.  After  working  for  a  brief  period  as  a  journeyman  printer 
he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Marmaduke  B.  Taylor  as  his  preceptor,  w  ith 
whom  he  remained  until  admitted  to  the  bar  as  an  attorney  at  the  Novemlier 
term  in  1882.  Three  years  later  he  was  admitted  as  a  counselor.  He  began 
practice  at  317  Market  street,  where  he  remained  until  1893.  when  he  came 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  ^33 

to  his  present  fine  office  at  424  Market  street,  opposite  tlie  Masonic  Temple. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  cases  relating  to  titles  and  general  real-estate  mat- 
ters, has  a  large  practice,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  bar.  He  is  the  so- 
licitor of  various  townships  and  boroughs,  also  of  a  number  of  trust  and 
insurance  companies,  and  a  director  in  the  Camden  Fire  Insurance  Associa- 
tion, the  Real  Estate  Loan  &  Trust  Company,  and  several  other  corpora- 
tions and  building  and  loan  associations. 

In  1888  Mr.  Harned  married  Helen  C.  Burr,  who  was  born  in  Camden, 
a  daughter  of  Jonathan  P.  and  Martha  (Eastlake)  Burr.  Mr.  Burr,  who  was 
the  secretary  of  the  Camden  Fire  Insurance  Association  for  fifty  years,  was 
the  father  of  five  children.  Mr.  and  ^Nfrs.  Harned  have  one  child,  John  F. 
Harned,  Jr. 

In  politics  Mr.  Harned  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Trimble 
Lodge,  No.  117,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Camden;  and  of  the  Brotherhood  of  the 
LTnion,  in  which  he  has  held  office  and  been  a  representative  to  the  Supreme 
Circle.  Mrs.  Harned  is  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  and  Mr. 
Harned  of  the  First  Unitarian  church. 


LEWIS  T.  STEVENS. 


Lewis  Townsend  Stevens  is  a  direct  descendant  through  two  lines  of 
John  Townsend,  who  removed  from  Long  Island  to  Cape  May  in  1695. 
Henry  Stevens  and  Henry  Young  Townsend,  great-great-grandfathers  of 
our  subject  on  the  paternal  side,  were  captains  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
serving  in  regiments  raised  in  Cape  ^Nlay  county  for  service  in  the  Colonial 
army  in  the  struggle  for  independence.  Joshua  Townsend,  a  great-grand- 
father, was  a  prominent  factor  in  political  affairs  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  He  was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  of  the 
state  from  1819  to  1821,  from  1822  to  1823  and  from  1827  until  1830.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  senate  from  1831  until  1834,  and  in 
the  war  of  181 2  he  served  as  a  lieutenant  of  volunteers.  Throughout  his 
active  business  career  he  was  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware  river,  and  during  the 
second  war  with  England,  while  acting  as  pilot  on  the  Pennsylvania,  the 
vessel  was  captured.  John  Stevens,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, v\'as  also  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware.  William  T.  Stevens,  the  father  of 
Lewis  T.  Stevens,  is  numbered  among  the  legislators  of  New  Jersey,  hav- 
ing represented  his  district  in  the  general  assembly  in  the  years  1876,  1877 
and  1878.  For  eight  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Cape 
May,  and  at  the  present  writing,  in  the  fall  of  1899,  he  is  a  member  of  the 


234 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


l)oar(l  of  freeholders.  By  oceiipatioii  lie  is  a  cariKMiter  and  builder,  and  is 
now  actively  associated  with  the  building  interests  of  the  county.  He  mar- 
ried Almeda  H..  a  daughter  of  William  S.  Hooper,  who  served  as  the  sheriff 
of  Cape  May  county  from  1856  until  1859.  His  grandfather,  John  Hooper, 
joined  the  American  army  in  the  attempt  to  overthrow  British  rule  in  the 
colonies,  and  his  brother,  William  Hooper,  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  \\'illiam  Smith,  another  great-great-grand- 
father on  the  maternal  side,  was  the  captain  of  a  company  raised  in  Glou- 
cester county.  New  Jersey,  to  oppose  British  supremacy  in  the  New  World. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  ancestors  of  Mr.  Stevens  were  valiant  warriors 
in  the  hostilities  that  gave  rise  to  the  greatest  republic  on  the  face  of  the 
globe.  William  S.  Hooper,  father  of  Mrs.  .\lmeda  Stevens,  joined  the 
Union  army  when  hostilities  were  inaugurated  between  the  north  and 
the  south,  and  William  T.  Stevens,  father  of  our  subject,  also  donned  the  blue 
and  followed  the  starry  banner  upon  the  battle-fields  of  the  south. 

Lewis  Townsend  Stevens,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  born 
in  Lower  township,  now  West  Cape  May,  August  22,  1868.  He  acquired 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Cape  May,  and  in  1889-90 
was  a  special  student  in  Princeton  University.  In  the  months  of  vacation 
and  when  not  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  school-room  he  devoted  his 
energies  to  such  tasks  as  would  bring  him  the  means  necessary  to  the  prose- 
cution of  an  education.  In  his  youth  he  manifested  special  love  for  history 
and  literature,  antl  his  knowledge  of  these  branches  of  learning  is  com- 
prehensive and  accurate.  While  still  a  l)oy  he  entered  a  printing-office  in 
Cape  May.  where  he  gradually  worked  his  way  upward  from  the  position 
of  "devil"  to  that  of  editor  of  a  daily  journal.  His  first  journalistic  venture 
was  made  in  his  school  days,  when  he  published  a  little  school  paper  and 
contributed  to  others.  In  1893  he  was  a  student  in  the  Metropolis  Law 
School,  of  New  York  city,  pursuing  his  studies  in  that  institution  in  the 
evening,  while  his  days  were  devoted  to  work.  It  was  during  that  period 
that  he  acted  as  associate  editor  of  the  Clothier  &  Furnisher  and  the  Cloak 
Review,  both  of  New  York.  He  also  carried  on  an  advertising  and  cor- 
respondence business,  which  he  still  conducts,  having  prosecuted  his  labors 
in  that  line  for  ten  years.  From  1897  until  1899  he  was  the  editor  of  the 
Cape  May  Wave.  His  literary  labors  have  been  further  continued  by  the 
compilation  and  publication  of  various  historical  works.  In  1897  he  com- 
pleted a  work  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  leisure  hours  through  ten  years, 
called  the  History  of  Cape  May  county.  It  is  a  purely  historical  work,  of 
four  hundred  and  eighty  pages,  and  is  now  one  of  the  standard  authorities  in 
New  Jersey,  embracing  the  record  of  important  public  e\ents  between  the 


COXGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  235 

years  1640  and  1897.  In  tlie  latter  year  he  also  compiled  the  Charter  and 
Ordinances  of  the  city  of  Ca])e  .May,— a  volume  of  two  hundred  pages.  As 
a  parHamentarian  he  also  enjovs  a  very  enviable  reputation,  and  on  account 
of  his  ability  in  that  direction  he  is  frequently  called  upon  to  preside  at 
public  assemblages.  He  has  maintained  his  residence  at  Cape  May  throu£;-h- 
out  his  entire  life  except  during  the  year  1893.  ^vhen  he  resided  in  New  York 
city. 

Mr.  Stevens  has  attained  prominence  in  political  circles  and  is  a  recog- 
nized leader  in  the  local  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  whose  principles 
he  warmly  advocates.  In  1892  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city  council 
of  Cape  May.  serving  for  three  years,  and  in  1894  was  president  of  that 
body.  In  1899  he  was  chosen  the  ta.x  receiver  for  Cape  Mav,  and  in  1898 
he  was  made  a  referee  in  bankruptcy  for  the  district  of  New  Jersey.  He 
has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous  Republican  conventions,  and  for  five  years 
has  been  a  member  of  the  state  executive  committee  of  the  Republican 
League  of  Clubs  of  New  Jersey.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  four  secret 
orders,  but  does  not  lake  an  active  part  in  the  lodge-room  work.  He  is 
now  past  master  of  Columbia  Lodge.  No.  2^.  Independent  Order  of 
Mechanics,  and  for  several  years  served  as  its  treasurer.  Religiously  he  is 
an  adherent  of  the  Episcopal  faith,  and  his  temperance  principl^es  are  mani- 
fest in  his  strict  abstinence  from  liquor  and  tobacco,  yet  he  does  not  pretend 
to  dictate  to  others  the  course  they  should  pursue  in  this  regard. 

On  the  nth  of  October.  1894,  Mr.  Stevens  was  united  in^'marriage.  in 
Xew  \ork.  to  Grace  Anna  Merwin.  a  representative  of  two  of  the  most 
prominent  families  of  Orange  county.  New  York,  the  Thealls  and  the 
Lewises,  the  latter  an  old  colonial  family  that  furnished  to  the  patriot  army 
a  number  of  its  \aliant  soldiers.  David  S.  Merwin,  father  of  Mrs.  Stevens, 
followed  the  starry  banner  upon  the  battlefields  of  the  south.  He  is  a 
relative  of  the  David  Merwin,  whom  W^ashington  Irving  immortalized  in 
the  character  of  Ichabod  Crane  in  the  Legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stevens  have  one  son.  Hobart  Merwin,  who  was  born  October  17,  1896. 


GEORGE  H.  CRAFT. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  George  H.  Craft  has  resided  in  Gloucester 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  at  -Mullica  Hill,  on  the  4th  of  September. 
1857.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Amanda  (Aborn)  Craft,  the  former  a 
native  of  Philadelphia  and  the  latter  of  Gloucester  county.  By  their  mar- 
riage the\-  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  George  is  the 
eldest,  the  others  l:)eing  Samuel,  who  makes  his  home  in  Repaupo;   Parker, 


236  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

a  resident  of  Pennsylvania;  Ella,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Wrioht.  a  blacksmith, 
of  Paulsboro:  Anna,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years:  Harry,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Edward,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  West  Jersey  Seashore 
Railroad  Company;  and  Howard,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  West  Jersey 
Railroad   Company. 

There  is  no  great  ditiference  in  the  way  in  which  boys  spend  their  time  or 
the  opportunities  that  are  afforded  them,  and  the  history  of  almost  all  men 
shows  that  the  duties  of  the  school-room  occupied  the  greater  part  of  their 
attention  in  youth.  Mr.  Craft  attended  both  public  and  private  schools  and 
acquired  a  good  knowledge  that  fitted  him  for  the  practical  and  responsible 
affairs  of  life.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  laboratory 
of  the  Gibbstown  Powder  Works,  where  he  continued  until  the  9th  of  May. 
1898. — a  long  period  considering  the  dangers  which  beset  one  who  pursues 
that  occupation.  During  the  past  two  years,  however,  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  lying  in  the 
outskirts  of  Repaupo  and  another  just  below  Repaupo  Station.  He  is  also 
a  stockholder  in  the  State  Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Association.  Marked 
perseverance  and  persistence  in  the  pursuit  of  purpose  have  been  his  chief 
characteristics  and  have  been  the  means  of  bringing  to  him  the  success  he 
has  acquired. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1881,  Mr.  Craft  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Deborah  Johnson,  a  daughter  of  John  Johnson,  of  Logan  township, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children,  but  George  H.  died  in  infancy.  The 
sur\'iving  child  is  Ella  Arietta.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Craft  hold  membership  in  the 
Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Repaupo.  and  take  a  very  active  part 
in  its  work.  He  has  served  as  steward,  is  now  trustee  and  has  been  the 
president  of  the  Epworth  League.  He  is  a  past  commander  of  Swedesboro 
Lodge.  K.  of  P..  and  is  a  member  of  the  Swedesboro  Grange.  His  political 
support  is  given  to  the  Democracy,  and  for  eight  years  he  has  served  on  the 
election  board,  is  now  commissioner  of  appeals  and  a  member  of  the  county 
Democratic  executive  committee.  He  is  a  recognized  leader  in  political 
circles  in  Gloucester  county,  and  in  church  work,  and  does  all  in  his  power 
to  secure  progress  and  reform  along  moral,  intellectual,  social  and  material 
lines. 


SA:\IUEL  J.  DUBOIS. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch.  Samuel  Johnson  DuBois.  who  resides  near 
Daretown.  New  Jersey,  a  short  distance  from  the  old  DuBois  homestead. 
W'here  he  was  born,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  this  part 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  237 

of  the  state.  Tliey  trace  their  origin  back  to  the  French  Huguenots  who 
came  to  America  nearly  two  and  a  half  centuries  ago,  seeking  religious  free- 
dom. Louis  DuEois,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  America,  came  from 
France,  his  nati\e  land,  to  this  country  in  1660,  and  acquired  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  From  him  was  descended  in  direct  line 
Jacob  DuBois,  born  in  New  York  state,  October  16,  1661 ;  Louis  DuBois, 
who  also  was  born  in  New  York  state  in  1695,  and  who  married  Margaret 
Jansen,  May  22,  1720;  Mathew  DuBois,  who  was  born  in  1722,  and  who 
man'ied  Jacominta  Newkirk;  Louis  DuBois,  who  was  born  in  Pittsgrove. 
New  Jersey,  in  1755,  and  who  married  Rebecca  Craig,  December  22,  1777; 
and  Samuel  DuBois,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Louis  DuBois, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Samuel,  gave  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land 
to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Daretown.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  under  Washington  and  held  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  army. 

Samuel  DuBois  was  a  farmer  all  his  life,  owning  and  cultivating  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land;  was  born,  lived  and  died  on  the  farm,  a  portion  of  which 
his  son  S.  J.  now  owns  and  occupies.  His  death  occurred  in  May,  1873. 
January  24,  1824,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Johnson,  a  daughter  of  Commo- 
dore Isaac  Johnson,  a  large  land  owner  and  a  prominent  man  and  a  veteran 
of  the  war  of  1812.  She  died  in  1876.  Seven  children  were  born  to  them, 
namely:  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  C.  M.  Streeper,  Atchison,  Kansas;  Adaline, 
the  widow  of  Jacob  Keeley,  also  of  Atchison;  Mary  Jane,  the  wife  of  Bloom- 
lield  Wall,  Fairfield,  Iowa;  Louis  P.,  who  married  Sarah  J.  Jones,  of  Elmer. 
New  Jersey,  but  now  of  Atchison,  Kansas;  Emeline,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Hitchner,  of  Kansas;  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Harmon  Hitchner,  of  Elmer,  New 
Jersey;   and  Samuel  J.,  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch. 

S.  J.  DuBois  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm,  working  on  the 
farm  in  summer  and  attending  the  public  schools  in  winter.  In  1864  he  went 
to  Atchison.  Kansas,  where  for  some  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Wells-Fargo  Express  Company.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  cattle  business 
with  Governor  Glick.  In  1869,  returning  to  New  Jersey,  he  bought  sixty 
acres  of  the  home  farm,  and  here  he  has  since  resided,  conducting  the  farm 
and  making  a  specially  of  the  stock  business,  raising  registered  Guernsey 
cattle  and  commanding  the  highest  market  price  for  his  dairy  products. 

Mr.  DuBois  married,  March  18,  1869,  Miss  Emily  Harding,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Harding;  and  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
T.  Harding;  Fannie,  the  wife  of  George  J.  W^are;  Emma,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
E.  Brooks;  and  T.  H.  and  Lou  Ella  DuBois.  As  a  citizen  Mr.  DuBois  is 
much  respectefl. 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PIRST 

BENJAMIN   V.   WOOD. 

One  of  the  most  familiar  figures  in  Salem  is  ISeniamin  l^ranklin  Wood, 
wlio  for  more  tlian  two  score  years  has  served  the  i)ulilic  in  official  positions 
of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  also  has  l)een  associated  with  numerous  local 
industries  and  enterjjrises.  in  e\'ery  possible  manner  advancing  the  interests 
of  his  town  and  locality. 

On  the  paternal  side  the  ancestors  of  Mr.  Wood  were  Germans;  but  the 
family  has  been  represented  in  this  county  for  several  generations.  His 
grandfather,  Henry  Wood,  cnltixated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
in  Mannington  township.  Salem  county.  In  his  politics  he  was  a  W'hig.  and 
in  religion  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  friendly  also  to  all 
other  Christian  societies.  Death  claimed  him  when  he  was  about  sixty  year? 
of  age,  and  all  of  his  twelve  or  thirteen  children  also  have  passed  away.  Wil- 
liam W^  was  the  principal  of  one  of  the  Philadelphia  public  schools  for 
many  years.  Benjamin  F.,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Mississippi  river,  was 
a  leading  merchant  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  owning  a  general  store  and 
speculating  extensively  in  land.  Richard  and  John,  farmers,  died  in  early 
manhood  in  this  county.  Ann  became  the  wife  of  \\'illiam  A.  Baker,  a 
farmer  of  Mannington  township,  this  cf)unty.  Rosanna  married  George 
Githens,  a  blacksmith  of  Canton,  Salem  county.  Joseph  was  the  father  of  our 
subject,  and  the  other  brothers  and  sisters  died  when  young. 

The  birth  of  Jose]:)h  H.  Wood  occurred  in  the  opening  year  of  this  cen- 
tury, and  throughout  his  life  he  was  a  farmer  of  Mannington  township,  cul- 
tivating a  fine  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  died  in  the 
prime  of  manhood,  in  1839,  and  was  survived  some  years  by  his  wife. 
Hannah  V.  (Brown)  Wood,  who  was  summoned  to  the  silent  land  August 
14,  1863,  when  she  was  sixty  years  of  age.  They  were  devoted  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  were  loved  and  respected  by  every  one.  Their 
six  children  were  as  follows:  Richard,  who  was  drowned  at  sea  about  the 
time  that  he  attained  his  majority;  Joseph,  a  blacksmith,  of  Bridgeton,  New 
Jersey,  whose  wife  was  formerly  Matilda  Ogden;  Emily  Anna,  who  died  in 
May,  1894,  and  whose  husband,  .\le.xander  Dubois,  has  been  coiuiected 
with  the  Philadelphia  Ledger  for  the  past  forty-fi\-e  _\ears:  Phoebe,  the  wife 
of  Charles  M.  Bisbing,  who  at  jiresent  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
cigars  in  Philadelphia;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  as  the  result 
of  an  accident;  Hannah  and  Rebecca,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Benjamin  F.  Wood  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Mannington  town- 
ship, Salem  county,  August  13,  1837.  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  Salem  Academv.     After  leaving  school  he  engaged  in  farming 


/\j   VAAACWv-vvw      \J     '  VAj-VJ-o-iV^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  239 

for  a  year  and  then  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which,  however,  he 
worked  only  two  years,  then  turning  his  attention  to  other  pursuits  on 
account  of  his  poor  health.  Obtaining  a  clerkship  in  a  store,  he  continued 
in  that  capacity  for  three  years,  after  which  he  accepted  a  position  in  the 
office  of  the  county  clerk,  where  he  was  employed  for  several  vears.  Xext 
he  took  up  the  study  of  law,  with  F.  L.  McCollough  as  his  preceptor,  but 
at  the  end  of  two  years  was  obliged  to  abandon  this  undertaking  and  in  its 
stead  became  interested  in  conveyancing,  and  has  followed  this  ever  since. 

For  twenty-one  consecutive  years,  from  1858  to  1879,  he  served  as  a 
deputy  sherifif.  In  May,  1868,  he  was  elected  to  the  oiifice  of  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  for  seven  terms.  In  1873  he  w-as  elected 
engrossing  clerk  of  the  senate  and  served  for  three  years,  and  for  forty-two 
years  has  transacted  most  of  the  legal  business  connected  with  the  sheriff's 
office,  besides  holding  numerous  minor  positions  connected  with  the  county 
ofTfices.  For  a  period  he  was  a  clerk  in  the  post-office,  and  for  five  }'ears  was 
in  the  internal  revenue  service;  was  deputy  collector  in  that  department  for 
eight  years,  and  for  seven  years  was  in  the  surrogate's  office.  Active  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  given  special  attention  to  local  poli- 
tics, and  in  1869  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  common  council  of  Salem 
and  served  three  years.  In  1879  he  was  honored  by  election  to  the  mayor's 
chair,  which  position  he  filled  with  credit  for  three  years,  and  following  that 
he  w'as  a  member  of  the  council  again  for  six  years.  On  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  business  of  the  county  and  town,  he  is  justly  considered  an  au- 
thority, and  no  one  could  well  be  more  vitally  interested  in  the  subject 
than  he. 

When  the  Franklin  Building  &  Loan  Association  was  organized,  April  i. 
1861,  he  was  made  one  of  its  first  directors,  and  from  that  time  until  the 
present  he  has  been  actively  connected  with  it,  now  being  the  only  one  of 
the  original  board  of  directors  left.  For  thirty-five  years  he  was  the  chair- 
man of  its  loan  committee,  and  for  the  past  four  years  he  has  held  the 
office  of  secretary  of  the  company.  For  many  years  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  real-estate  and  insurance  business,  and  through  his  patriotism  and 
zeal  some  of  our  best  citizens  have  been  induced  to  locate  their  homes  or 
business  here.  He  is  a  member  of  the  local  board  of  trade,  and  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Wood  and  Miss  Margaret  D.  Conover  was  solem- 
nized March  11.  1857.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  R.  Conover,  who  was 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  at  Cedarville,  Cumberland  county,  this  state. 
Five  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  wife:  Benjamin  F..  Jr.,  an  enter- 
prising young  man.  assists  his  father  in  his  numerous  business  enterprises; 


240  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

and  Alice  M.  and  Elsie  A.  Alice  M.  is  unmarried  and  at  home;  Elsie  A. 
Wood  was  married,  October  28.  1899,  to  Robert  S.  Faris,  who  is  the  in- 
dustrial editor  of  The  Pittsburg-  Times:  while  the  two  youngest  children 
died  in  infancy. 


WILLIAM  J^IORRIS. 


This  gentleman  belongs  to  a  family  whose  ancestral  tree  has  spread  its 
influential  branches  in  Salem  county,  having  been  planted  here  at  a  very 
early  day,  when  the  country  was  entirely  unsettled.  It  has  grown  and 
flourished  for  generations,  until  the  present  day,  when  its  younger  members 
are  among  the  most  influential  and  esteemed  residents  of  the  county. 
Christopher  Morris,  who  was  William  Morris'  great-grandfather,  was  one 
of  the  public  men  of  Sharptown  during  the  early  days  of  the  village  and 
occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  community.  He  had  three  children, — 
William,  Rachel  and  Martha.  William  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  and 
general  trader  of  that  village  and  also  carried  on  farming.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  force  of  character  whose  influence  in  that  section  was  almost  unlim- 
ited. He  married  Elizabeth  Humphries,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children, 
and  of  these  John  H.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  eldest.  Then  came 
Lydia.  Elizabeth,  Josiah,  William,  Samuel,  Amanda  and  Emma  Jane. 

John  H.  Morris  was  born  in  Penn's  Neck  township,  this  county,  July  21. 
1814,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Mannington  township  until  1863,  when  he 
moved  to  Salem  and  was  not  actively  engaged  in  business  for  several  years. 
In  1877  he  purchased  the  business  of  W.  R.  Hunt,  successor  of  Hall,  Dunn  & 
Hunt,  manufacturers  of  oil-cloth  in  this  city.  Two  years  later  he  purchased 
the  Fenwick  Oil  Cloth  Works  and  subsequently  built  the  Salem  Oil  Cloth 
Works  and  continued  in  that  business  there  until  his  death,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son.  He  possessed  energy,  decision,  industry  and  per- 
severance to  carry  to  a  successful  termination  any  project  which  he  espoused, 
and  his  prosperous  business  career  was  but  the  result  of  these  qualities. 
He  was  economical  and  quiet  in  his  tastes  and  unpretentious  in  his  manner. 
He  w^as  in  close  sympathy  with  the  Republican  party  and  filled  some  of  the 
township  offices,  although  he  was  not  an  aspirant  for  political  honors.  He 
married  Mary  H.  Stretch,  a  daughter  of  Mark  Stretch,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  only  one  of  whom  grew  to  adult  years. 

William  Morris  is  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  H.  (Stretch)  Alorris,  and 
was  born  in  Mannington  township,  Salem  county,  February  5,  1847.  He 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for  several  years, 
cultivating  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  in  Ouinton  township. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEV.  241 

until  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Salem  and  was  associated  witli  his  father 
in  the  manufacture  of  oil-cloth.    After  the  death  of  his  father,  September  17, 

1879,  he  succeeded  to  the  entire  business  and  has  had  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able trade.  The  plant  occupies  about  ten  acres  and  is  a  large  brick  and  frame 
structure,  where  one  hundred  men  found  constant  employment,  at  o-ood 
wages,  until  recent  years,  when,  in  1898.  dull  business  caused  it  to  be  dis- 
continued. j\Ir.  Morris  still  owns  the  plant,  together  with  a  considerable 
estate.  He  has  amassed  quite  a  fortune  and  can  afford  to  take  life  easy  for 
the  remainder  of  his  days  if  he  is  so  disposed.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Republican  party,  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Country  Club  and  of  the 
Fenwick  Club,  and  also  of  the  Art  Club  in  Philadelphia.  He  is  of  a  social, 
genial  disposition. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  K.,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Waddington,  in 

1880,  has  been  honored  by  the  birth  of  two  children:  Mary  H.,  now  attend- 
ing college;   and  W.  Hermann  Morris. 


JOHN  SCOTT  BATTEN. 

About  1700  Sir  Francis  Batten  came  to  America  from  England,  and. 
probably  by  sailing  up  the  Delaware  river,  reached  a  point  about  three  miles 
from  Swedesborc  on  the  Franklinville  road,  where  he  settled  and  took  up  a 
large  tract  of  land,  the  greater  part  of  which  has  since  been  occupied  by  his 
descendants.  His  son  Thomas,  born  January  9.  1738,  was  marriefl.  March 
24,  1766,  to  Jane  Ann  Scott,  who  was  born  January  12,  1744,  and  who  lived 
for  some  years  in  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey.  The  fruits  of  their  union 
were  the  follow^ing  named  children:  Zillah.  born  August  29.  1767,  married 
Thomas  Flich,  of  Logan  township,  Gloucester  countv.  New  Jersey;  Ann, 
born  April  16,  1769,  married  John  Gill,  of  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester 
county:  Jane,  born  February  19,  1771;  Joseph,  May  9,  1773:  Thomas, 
August  5,  1775:  Zebulon,  August  28,  1778:  Mary,  born  October  22.  1780, 
married  Nicholas  Justice,  of  Logan  township;  and  John,  born  May  2.  1787. 
The  last  named,  John,  married  Lydia  Hendrickson,  bv  whom  he  had  the 
following  named  children:  Sarah,  who  married  Leonard  Paul;  Mary  G., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years;  William  W..  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years;  John  Scott,  whose  name  introduces  this  article:  Lydia,  the 
widow  of  Jeremiah  A-dams.  of  Woolwich  township,  has  three  children- 
Emeline,  deceased;  and  Isabella  (twin  of  Emeline),  who  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  Augustus  sailor  and  after  his  death  to  Samuel  Grofif,  of  Swedes- 
boro. 


242 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 


John  Scott  Batten  was  born  August  12,  1823,  in  Woolwich  township, 
Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
tow-nship,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  the  Swedes- 
boro  Academy.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  his  marriage, 
and  after  that  occupied  an  adjoining  farm,  which  his  father  owned  and  which 
his  son  Jonathan  noAV  owns.  Our  subject  still  owns  the  old  homestead.  In 
1885,  however,  he  retired  from  the  farm,  purchased  and  remodeled  the  resi- 
dence he  has  since  occupied  in  Swedesboro,  and  for  the  past  fourteen  years 
has  been  retired  from  active  life.  His  home  is  one  of  the  best  appointed  and 
most  pleasant  ones  in  southern  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Batten  was  married  February  15,  1849,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  V.  Atkin- 
son, a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Allen)  Atkinson,  of  Mount 
Ephraim,  New  Jersey.  They  have  had  five  children,  viz.:  Amanda,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Jonathan  A.,  who  owns  and  is  farming  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead,  married  Kate  H.  IMoore,  a  daughter  of  Dayton  and 
Martha  (Weatherby)  Moore,  and  they  have  two  children, — May  H.  and 
John  Scott.  Jr.;  Emeline,  at  home;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Carlton  E. 
Rulon,  a  farmer  near  Swedesboro,  and  they  have  two  children, — Isabella  and 
Florence;  and  Isabella,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  Jones,  a  harness- 
maker  of  Swedesboro. 

Mr.  Batten  and  family  are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  Swedes- 
boro, of  which  he  has  been  a  member  since  1856,  a  vestryman  since  1858, 
and  senior  warden  from  1880  to  1898,  when  he  resigned.  Mrs.  Batten  has 
been  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school  for  nineteen  years.  Mr.  Batten  has 
for  several  years  been  a  member  of  the  Swedesboro  Grange.  He  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  but  has  refused  rather  than  sought  public  office. 


PAUL  DEHNER. 


The  subject  of  this  biography,  one  of  the  honored  citizens  and  worthy 
agriculturists  of  West  Deptford  township,  Gloucester  county,  is  a  descend- 
ant of  sterling  German  ancestors,  and  possesses  many  of  the  leading  and 
best  characteristics  of  the  Teutonic  race.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father  and  many  preceding  generations;  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the 
tilling  of  the  soil  and  has  won  success  and  a  competence  by  hard,  persistent 
labor.  His  homestead  is  a  model  of  neatness,  well  cultivated  fields,  sub- 
stantial buildings  and  fences,  and  he  has  just  cause  to  be  proud  of  what  he 
has  achieved. 

In  tracing  his  historv,  it  is  learned  that  Mr.  Dehner  was  born  in  the 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY. 


^43 


township  in  wliich  he  is  still  making  his  home,  the  date  of  his  nativity  being 
October  13,  1865.  His  parents,  John  and  Frederica  Dehner.  were  born  and 
reared  in  Germany,  and  several  decades  ago  they  decided  to  cast  in  their 
fortunes  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States.  Coming  to  these  hos- 
pitable shores,  they  located  in  this  state,  and  carried  on  a  farm  with  the 
untiring  energy  and  application  to  purpose,  which  their  children  early 
sought  to  emulate. 

From  boyhood,  therefore,  Paul  Dehner  was  trained  in  the  principles  of 
business  which,  followed  out  with  innate  perseverance,  ultimately  brought 
success  and  influence.  An  important  move  made  in  his  early  manhood  was 
his  marriage  to  Anna  Barnaby,  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Ellen  Barnaby,  at 
Woodbury,  September  10,  1889.  Four  children  bless  their  happy  home, 
named  respectively  Milford,  Freda,  Paul  and  Hellen.  The  family  attend  the 
Baptist  church  and  contrilnite  liberally  of  their  means  and  influence  to  the 
promotion  of  religion,  education  and  charitable  enterprises.  Mr.  Dehner  is 
a  member  of  the  Improved  order  of  Red  ]\Ien,  and  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
his  political  attitude.  He  thoroughly  merits  the  deep  respect  and  genuine 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  neighbors  and  associates,  and,  as  far  as 
known,  he  has  no  enemies. 


EVAN  D.  PEARSON. 


Evan  Davis  Pearson,  who  conducts  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop  at 
Hurf^ville,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  will  form  the  subject  of  this 
biographical  noti'ce.  He  was  born  of  English  parentage  in  the  same  section 
in  which  he  now  lives,  March  4,  1843,  ^  son  of  Sampson  and  Judith  (Engle- 
man)  Pearson,  who  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children.  The  four  still 
living  are:  Charles,  of  Blackwoodtown;  Jerry,  of  Hurf¥ville:  our  subject; 
and  Rhoda,  the  wife  of  M.  Turner,  of  Woodliury.  Our  subject's  father  came 
from  England  in  1823,  settled  in  Ohio,  and  in  this  township  in  1830.  He 
kept  a  large  store  at  Creesville,  and  also  did  a  large  business  in  charcoal.  He 
was  finally  murdered,  in  Philadelphia,  in  1848,  and  his  bodv  was  thrown  into 
the  Schuylkill  river.     His  wife  died  in  July,  1864. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  our  subject  left  the  common  schools  and 
went  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  under  David  Ward.  In  1866  he  went 
into  partnership  with  Mr.  Ward,  and  the  partnership  was  only  ended  by  the 
death  of  Mr.  Ward.  Since  that  time — 1874 — our  subject  has  operated  alone. 
He  has  made  a  large  number  of  wagons,  light  and  heav\-,  and  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  horse-shoeing. 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Always  a  Democrat,  he  is  pul)lic-si)inte(l  and  has  been  favored  with  local 
offices,  including  township  committeeman,  president  of  the  school  board, 
etc.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal-  church  and  one  of  the 
trustees.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  which  he  joined 
twenty-five  years  a^o,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  Jefiferson  Lodge  at 
Hurfifville.  He  has  served  his  lodge  as  the  keeper  of  the  exchequer  and  has 
passed  all  the  chairs.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Junior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics,  the  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain  and  the  Grange  Society.  He 
has  been  a  hard  worker  and  has  been  repaid  by  the  accumulation  of  a  hand- 
some property. 

In  1865  he  married  Sarah  A.  W'adsworth.  also  a  native  of  England,  but 
then  of  Hurffville.  Of  their  six  children,  the  four  living  are  as  follows: 
Joseph  and  Clarence  C.  who.  having  learned  their  father's  trade,  are  aiding 
him  in  his  business:  Frank  and  Estella.  at  home.  Our  subject  has,  by  reason 
of  his  honor  and  industry,  formed  a  large  circle  of  friends,  thus  proving  that 
it  pays  to  live  a  correct  life. 


J.  CLARK  HELMS. 


^Ir.  Helms,  of  this  review,  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers  in  Glou- 
cester countv.  and  the  volume  of  his  business  has  made  him  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  the  community.  He  makes  his  home  in  Repaupo,  and 
was  born  on  the  farm  near  the  town,  now  occupied  by  Henry  Shoemaker. 
His  natal  day  was  June  13,  1854,  and  his  parents  were  John  S.  and  Mary 
(Clark)  Helms. .  His  paternal  grandfather,  Hance  Helms,  resided  near  Re- 
paupo, and  his  maternal  grandfather.  Joseph  Clark,  was  a  resident  of  Bridge- 
port, New  Jersey.  John  S.  Helms,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  on  the  9th 
of  February,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  his  mother  now  re- 
sides in  Bridgeport.  In  their  family  were  five  children:  Sarah,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  Henry  Shoemaker,  of  Repaupo;  Meribah,  who  lives  with  her 
mother:  Hannah,  the  deceased  wife  of  E.  H.  Turner,  of  Harrisonville,  New- 
Jersey:  Joseph  Clark,  of  this  review:  and  Mary  Ella,  who  is  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching. 

J.  Clark  Helms  acquired  his  prelnninary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Repaupo  and  Woodbury  and  later  was  a  student  in  Wyoming  Seniinarj\ 
of  Kingston,  Pennsylvania.  On  the  completion  of  his  education  he  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  has  since  followed  with  great  success.  For 
twenty-one  years  he  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm,  which  he  purchased 
in  1878,  and  the  improvement  of  which  he  has  superintended.     The  place 


^^J^u^^.^^. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  245 

comprises  sixty-five  acres,  all  of  w  hich  are  under  a  iiigh  state  of  culti\-ation. 
He  has  erected  thereon  a  fine  residence  and  good  out-buildings,  and  by  the 
addition  of  other  improvements  has  added  to  its  value  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. In  addition  he  owns  another  farm,  of  seventy-five  acres,  near  Bridge- 
port. He  has  also  dealt  in  poultry  for  many  years,  and  since  1890  has  Iseen 
accounted  one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers  in  this  line  in  the  state.  He 
raises  fine  varieties  and  his  excellent  care  of  them  makes  them  particularly 
valuable  upon  the  market.  He  is  a  man  of  resourceful  business  ability  whose 
eft'orts  have  not  been  confined  to  one  line  alone:  and  now,  in  addition  to 
farming  and  poultry-raising,  he  is  ser\ing  as  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
Swedesboro  National  Bank,  in  which  he  holds  considerable  stock. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1877,  :\Ir.  Helms  was  united  in  marriage  to 
]\liss  Valinda  M.  Sheets,  a  daughter  of  John  Sheets,  of  Bridgeport.  They 
have  four  children:  Bertha  R.;  Sarah  S.:  Valinda.  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years:  and  John  C.  In  1888.  Mr.  Helms  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  July,  of  that  year.  On  the  4th  of  Decem- 
ber. 1890,  he  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Ellen  B.  Sharp. 
Mrs.  Helms  was  bom  in  Bridgeport,  February  19.  i860,  a  daughter  of 
George  S.  Sharp,  of  that  place.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  she  became  a 
teacher,  following  the  profession  in  Bridgeport,  Center  Square  and  Martin- 
ville,  and  was  very  popular,  teaching  the  most  of  the  time  in  her  native  town. 
She  is  a  lady  of  many  fine  qualities  and  an  active  brain,  assisting  her  husband 
in  carrying  on  his  extensive  business,  as  she  has  a  fine  business  ability. 

Since  1867  Mr.  Helms  has  been  a  member  of  Repaupo  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  has  taken  a  very  active  part  in  its  work,  contributes  largely  to 
its  support  and  was  for  several  years  president  of  its  board  of  trustees.  He  is 
a  member  of  Osceola  Lodge,  No.  75,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Swedesboro.  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Swedesboro  Grange.  In  politics  he  is  an  independent 
voter,  unswerving  in  his  support  of  his  principles.  He  was  assessor  of  Logan 
township  from  1889  until  1897,  his  long  continuance  in  the  office  well  in- 
dicatmg  his  fidelity  to  duty.  He  is  a  man  of  keen  discernment  in  business 
affairs,  of  sound  judgment  and  of  marked  industry,  and  his  success  may  be 
attributed  entirely  to  his  own  efforts. 


BEXJAMIX   F.   BURT. 


Among  the  former  residents  of  Whig  Lane.  Salem  county.  New  Jersey, 
who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  development  of  the  county  and  are  espe- 
cially worthy  of  mention  as  enterprising  and  reputable  citizens,  was  Benja- 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

mill  F.  Burt,  now  deceased:  and  it  affords  us  great  satisfaction  to  pay  a 
tribute  to  tlie  memory  of  so  good  a  man. 

He  was  l)orn  May  14.  1819.  near  Barnsboro.  Gloucester  county,  this 
state,  a  son  of  Richard  Burt,  of  Cedarville,  Cumberland  county,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Richard  Burt,  of  Cedarville,  whose  father.  John,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  neighborhood.  The  father  moved  near  Pole  Tavern,  where  his  last 
days  were  spent.  Benjamin  F.  Burt  received  a  common-school  education 
and  began  farming  at  an  early  age.  He  moved  upon  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  his  widow,  in  1845.  ''"d  there  made  his  home  until  he  entered  the  home 
everlasting  May  17.  1873.  He  was  endowed  with  exceptional  business  quali- 
fications, was  a  hard  worker  and  a  very  prosperous  farmer,  having  the  love 
and  respect  of  his  neighbors  for  his  many  admirable  qualities.  He  was  mar- 
ried November  13.  1845,  to  Miss  Experience  Richman.  a  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Richman.  and  their  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children,  two 
of  whom — Charles  R.  and  Francis  A. — are  at  home. 

I\Ir.  Burt  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Daretown. 
and  held  the  office  of  elder  for  several  years.  He  was  the  collector  of  the 
township  for  many  years  and  held  the  confidence  of  the  people  to  a  remark- 
able extent.  He  was  kind  and  aft'ectionate  in  his  family,  a  good  neighbor, 
charitable  to  those  deserving  of  charity,  and  in  his  death  Salem  county  lost 
one  of  her  noblest  men. 


LUTHER  T.  GARRETSOX. 

.\mong  the  enterprising  merchants  of  Cape  May  Court  House  is  Luther 
Townsend  Garretson.  who  to-day  conducts  a  well  equipped  store  containing 
a  large  stock  of  boots  and  shoes  and  men's  furnishing  goods,  and  by  his  hon- 
orable business  methods,  his  desire  and  efforts  to  please  and  his  reliability  in 
all  trade  transactions  he  has  secured  a  liberal  patronage. 

Mr.  Garretson  is  one  of  the  younger  representatives  of  the  business  inter- 
ests of  the  county  seat,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  20th  of  November, 
1870.  at  Green  Creek,  Cape  !May  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Townsend  W.  and 
Hannah  (Eldredge)  Garretson.  His  paternal  great-grandfather.  Job  Gar- 
retson, resided  near  Beverley's  Point.  Cape  May  county,  but  died  in  Atlantic 
county.  He  was  identified  with  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  married  Rachel 
Townsend.  His  death  occurred  in  1854.  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1856.  when  she  had  attained  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  children:  Reuben,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Closes  Williams,  a  farmer,  by  whom  she 
had  five  children, — ^John,  David.  Nancy,  Elizabeth  and  Moses;   and  Caleb, 


COXGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF   XEJr  JERSEY.  047 

who  married  Mary  W'eldon  and  resided  in  Salem  countv.  Xew  Terser 
Reuben  Garretson  resided  :n  Tuckahoe.  Neu-  Jersey,  and  afterward  removed 

h        .  .?    c  "P  ^''  '''°^'  '"  -^*'^"^'^  '^^""ty-    He  also  was  a  mem- 

ber of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  was  a  man  of  upright  life  which  com- 
manded pubhc  confidence.  He  married  Hannah  Worth,  a  daughter  of 
Townsend  Worth  who  removed  from  South  Carolina  to  New  Jersey.  His 
half  brother  was  Governor  Haskins.  at  one  time  the  chief  executive  of  the 
omer  state.    Townsend  Worth  was  an  extensive  land-owner  and  held  vah' 

G  s'TeI"-  :  "'''"'  ''"-■  '"'"•  '-^"^^  '''''  ^'^'■^-"  --  Hannah; 
Giles  and  Ehas    who  were  sea  captains;    Mary,  wife  of  George  Work    a 

pnn  er  of  Ph,  adelph.a;  and  Rachel,  wife  of  John  Dukes,  a  butcher.     Town 

send  Wor^h  d.ed  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  but  his  wife  long  survived  him 

and  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.     Reuben  Garretson.  the  gra^id 

awa>  ,n  1894  when  about  e.ght.v-eight  years  of  age.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren. Job.  who  ,s  hvmg  in  California,  was  interested  in  mining  there  and  at 
one  t„.e  served  as  sheniY  of  Siskiyou  county.  Reuben  L..  who  was  formerlv 
a  sea  captam.  but  is  now  following  farming  in  Tuckahoe.  New  Jersev   mar'- 

s"on"f  cT  '  M  ^"  ''";'■;■•  •  ''''""^^  "  ^'^  ''''''''  ^^-'^^  °f  J----'^  John- 
ston, of  Cape  May   and  their  son.  Reuben  L..  is  a  merchant  of  Erma.'Xew 

J^^     M^  IS  the  wife  of  George  L.   Dukes,  a  sea  captain  and  farmer 

o     Plfad  M        '  r';,-'  ""  '^'''""  '''  ''°'''-'-'  J-  ^  '"-1-^  --chant 

of  Pluladelphia;    \\  Uham  and   George,   who    are    farmers    at    Tuckahoe- 

Martha,  wife  of  William  Champion,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Millville-  and 
Mary  at  home  Rachel  was  twice  married,  her  second  husband  being  Dr 
W  ilhams,  of  Maryland,  by  whom  she  has  two  cmidren.  Mary  and  Anna  ' 

■  ,  I  VZT^  g'-andfather  of  our  subject  is  Ephraim  Eldredge.  who  re- 
Kled  in  Middle  township,  Cape  May  county,  where  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  married  Rachel  Gofif,  and  they  had  three  children:  Duf- 
fle, who  xvas  a  farmer;  Hannah,  mother  of  our  subject;  and  Rebecca  wife  of 
Thomas  Evans,  who  resides  in  Middle  township.  The  grandfather  died  in 
189/.  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  his  wife  passed  awav  in  1895  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six.  He  held  a  membership  in  the  Meth;dist  Episcopal 
church,  took  an  active  part  in  its  work  and  lived  a  consistent  Christian  life 

Townsend  W.  Garretson.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Ocean 
\  lew.  Cape  May  county,  and  resided  for  many  years  in  Tuckahoe.  He  also 
spent  eighteen  years  in  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  gold  and 
m  other  business  interests,  manufacturing  turpentine  on  an  extensive  scale 
He  resided  at  different  places  in  the  Golden  state,  and  upon  his  return  to  the 


248  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OP   THE  PIRST 

east  located  at  Green  Creek,  Cape  May  county,  where  he  owned  and  cared 
for  six  hundred  acres  of  land.  Since  1879,  however,  he  has  lived  a  retired  life 
in  Cape  May  Court  House.  He  holds  many  mortgages  and  is  the  owner  of 
much  valuable  real  estate  in  different  parts  of  the  county.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  for  several  years  served  as  freeholder.  He  is  still  living,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-h\'e  years,  hut  his  wife  passed  away  in  iS8(j,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years. 

Luther  T.  Garretson  is  indebted  to  the  public-school  system  of  Cape  May 
Court  House  for  the  educational  privileges  he  received  and  his  business  train- 
ing was  obtained  in  Pricket's  Business  College,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1891.  He  then  established  his  present  business  in  Cape  May  Court  House, 
where  he  carries  a  large  and  well  selected  stock  and  is  meeting  with  excellent 
success.  He  has  also  become  an  active  factor  in  the  various  interests  which 
constitute  the  public  life  of  the  town  and  gives  his  support  to  all  measures 
calculated  to  prove  a  pul)lic  benefit.  He  gives  his  political  influence  to  the 
Democracy,  and  has  served  as  township  trustee.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  Ponemah  Tribe,  No.  163,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men;  of  Arbutus 
Lodge,  No.  70,  F.  &  A.  M.:  is  a  member  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Cape  May  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  holds  a  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1891,  Mr.  Garretson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ida  E.  Hand,  a  daughter  of  German  Hand,  a  sea  captain  of 
Atlantic  county,  and  they  have  four  children, — Audley,  Ida,  Edmund  and 
Emily.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garretson  occu])y  a  jirominent  position  in  social  circles 
and  their  own  pleasant  home  is  noted  for  its  hos])itality. 


GEORGE  WOLFERTH. 

Upon  one  of  the  highly  cultivated  farms  of  East  Greenwich  township, 
Gloucester  county,  near  Tomlin  Station,  resides  this  well  known  and  enter- 
prising agriculturist,  who  came  from  Germany  to  seek  a  home  in  .America, 
and  has  found  here  the  opportunities  for  advancement  which  were  not 
afforded  him  in  the  Old  World.  He  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  August  13, 
1845.  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Freclerika  (Beltz)  Wolferth.  His  father  was 
a  farmer  and  silent  his  entire  life  in  Germany.  In  the  family  were  five  chil- 
dren: Christena,  wife  of  Jacob  Meal,  of  Germany:  Christian,  whose  sketch 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  work:  Godfred,  who  went  to  California 
many  years  ago  and  has  not  been  heard  from  si«ce;  George,  of  this  review; 
and  Caroline,  wife  of  Michael  Ley,  of  Paulsboro,  New  Jersey. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  249 

In  the  Fatherland  George  Wolferth  acquired  his  education  and  in  early 
life  became  familiar  with  the  labors  of  the  farm.  At  length  he  determined  to 
cross  the  Atlantic,  believing  that  better  advantages  were  here  afforded 
young  men  than  in  the  older  countries  of  Europe.  On  the  6th  of  December, 
1866.  he  landed  at  New  York,  and  for  ten  years  thereafter  worked  for  his 
brother  Christian.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  with  the  capital  that 
he  had  acquired  through  his  own  efforts,  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
ninety  acres,  and  in  1896  he  erected  thereon  a  beautiful  residence,  which  is 
one  of  the  best  country  homes  in  the  neighborhood.  He  has  also  repaired 
the  outbuildings  and  erected  new  ones,  so  that  he  is  to-day  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the  locality.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  rais- 
ing of  garden  products  for  the  city  markets,  and  the  excellence  of  the  vege- 
tables which  he  produces  enables  him  to  command  the  highest  market 
prices. 

Mr.  Wolferth  was  married,  on  the  26th  of  February,  1874,  to  Miss  Annie 
Rode,  of  Swedesboro.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  and  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Evangelical  Association  of  Clarksboro.  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  of  Swedesboro  and  of  the 
Mickleton  Grange.  His  enterprise  and  energy  have  enabled  him  to  advance 
steadily  on  the  road  to  progress  and  prosperity,  and  he  is  now  regarded  as 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  community.  He  takes  a  deep  and  abid- 
ing interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  county, 
and  gives  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  many  movements  for  the  public  good. 
The  hope  that  led  him  to  leave  his  native  land  and  seek  a  home  in  the  United 
States  has  been  more  than  realized.  He  found  the  opportunities  he  sought, 
—which,  by  the  way,  are  always  open  to  ambitious  and  energetic  men, — and 
making  the  best  of  these  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward.  He  pos- 
sesses the  resolution,  perseverance  and  reliability  so  characteristic  of  people 
of  his  nationality,  and  his  name  is  now  enrolled  among  the  best  citizens  of 
southern  Xew  Jersey. 


ALBERT  S.  FOGG. 


One  of  the  most  enterprising  farmers  of  Lower  AUoway  Creek  town- 
ship, Albert  S.  Fogg,  was  born  near  Harmersville.  in  that  township,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Caleb  S.  and  Annie  M.  (Moskell)  Fogg.  In 
his  father's  family  there  were  five  children:  Albert  S.;  Melvina  C,  the  wife 
of  a  farmer  near  Harmersville;  Lucy  W.,  who  died  the  wife  of  William 
Paget;   Emma  L.,  who  married  Abraham  D.  Shimp;   and  Abbie,  who  mar- 


250  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   FIRST 

ried  William  F.  Shini]), — all  of  whom  reside  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Fcgg;  was  educated  in  the  pulilic  schools  of  liis  native  township  and 
the  Friends'  school  at  Salem,  and  has  always  followed  farming.  In  1880 
he  located  on  his  present  place  on  Stoe  Neck,  which  is  the  old  Bradway 
homestead.  lie  has  here  one  of  the  finest  and  best  managed  farms  in  the 
township. 

He  was  married,  January  18,  1876,  to  Harriet  T.  Hancock,  a  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Mary  (Turner)  Hancock,  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek.  They 
have  eight  children:  C.  Howard  and  Mary,  twins,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
at  the  age  of  four  and  a  half  months;  Elizabeth  T.,  Luke  S.,  John  M.,  Rich- 
ard H.,  Fannie  F.  and  Mary  E.  R.  Mr.  Fogg  and  family  worship  at  the 
Canton  Baptist  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grange,  has  been  several 
times  the  overseer  of  the  township,  and  is  now  the  commissioner  of  appeals. 


ALBERT  L.  STURR. 


Considerably  more  than  a  century  ago  the  Sturr  family  was  founded  in 
America  by  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  for  independence.  Isaac 
Sturr,  the  next  in  the  line  of  descent,  died  when  a  young  man,  a  victim  to 
the  dreaded  scourge,  yellow  fex'er.  The  family  were  first  located  in  Dela- 
ware, then  near  the  Hudson  river,  in  Xew  York  state,  and  finally  came  to 
New  Jersey,  settling  in  Passaic  county,  since  which  time  they  have  been 
associated  with  the  development  of  this  state. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Peter  I.  Sturr,  was  born  in  the  Empire 
state,  and  in  his  early  manhood  went  to  Manchester  township,  Passaic 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  in  dealing  in  lumber.  He  com- 
menced life  a  poor  boy  and  by  his  own  well  directed  energy  accumulated 
a  goodly  fortune.  For  some  eight  years  he  served  in  the  capacity  of  town- 
ship assessor  and  at  various  times  he  held  other  local  offices.  He  died  in 
1890,  mourned  sincerely  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  loving  wife  survived 
him  but  six  years,  dying  in  1896.  In  her  girlhood  she  was  a  Miss  Matilda 
Lydecker,  her  father,  Albert  Lydecker,  being  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bergen 
county,  this  state,  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  legislature.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  I.  Sturr,  namely:  Lorena,  now  the 
widow  of  Robert  Van  Kirk,  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey;  Isaac,  of  Elmer,  this 
county;  Albert  L. :  and  ^Marietta,  the  widow  of  James  Wittage,  of  Hoboken. 

The  birth  of  Albert  L.  Sturr  took  place  in  Manchester.  Passaic  county. 


^/U^-^-^^j'^l^^i^iyi^ 


COKGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY 


2.;  I 


Xew  Jersey.  Xovember  9.  1837.  He  learned  to  be  of  great  assistance  to 
his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm,  and  when  he  arrived  at  his  majority 
he  went  into  the  himber  business  with  him.  In  1865  he  removed  to  this 
county,  and,  buying  a  large  tract  of  timber  land,  proceeded  to  run  a  saw- 
mill and  supply  the  market  with  lumber.  He  continued  actively  occupied  in 
this  venture  for  three  decades,  then  selling  out  to  his  son  in  1895.  Since 
then  he  has  been  practically  retired,  though  he  retains  an  interest  in  several 
paying  concerns  and  enterprises.  He  still  owns  about  five  hundred  acres  of 
fine  land,  and  has  investments  in  oyster  beds  and  timber  lands  in  Maryland. 
Success  has  come  to  him  as  the  result  of  years  of  earnest  effort  and  toil,  and 
his  life  may  well  ser^'e  as  an  example  to  the  younger  generation. 

At  one  time  he  took  an  active  part  in  Democratic  politics,  and  in  his 
early  manhood  he  served  efficiently  in  a  number  of  offices.  For  a  long 
period  he  was  prominent  in  the  Odd'  Fellows  order  and  represented  his  own 
lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state. 

In  October,  1857,  he  wedded  Miss  Ann  E.  Spear,  a  daughter  of  John 
Spear,  of  Bergen  county.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife, 
two  have  passed  to  the  silent  land.  The  daughter,  Alice,  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Gaunt,  of  Pole  Tavern:  and  Frank  now  runs  the  mill  at  Elmer  and 
the  lumber  business. 


\MLLIA.M  B.  BROWX. 


The  eariy  inhabitants  of  the  Xew  England  states  were  men  of  nerve  and 
will,  whose  self-denial  and  patient  industry,  attended  with  hardships  of  which 
the  present  generation  are  ignorant,  made  possible  the  cultivated  and  peace- 
ful Hfe  of  those  states  at  this  day  and  paved  the  way  to  the  accomplishment  of 
much  that  was  unthought  of  by  them,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  those 
steriing  principles  which  makes  Xew  Jersey  one  of  the  foremost  states  in 
the  Union.  Among  the  families  who  came  to  this  state  during  the  preceding 
century,  in  defiance  of  the  wild  beast  and  ferocious  red  man,  to  establish 
homes  for  themselves  in  the  wilderness  and  change  it  from  a  desolate,  un- 
broken waste  into  homes  and  cultivated  fields,  was  that  of  Aaron 
Brown,  whose  ancestral  tree  was  deep-rooted  in  the  sturdy  soil  of  old  Eng- 
land. Little  is  known,  except  in  a  general  way,  of  his  life  and  adventures, 
further  than  that  among  his  children  was  one  named  William  Brown,  who 
made  his  home  in  Cumberiand  county.  He  married  and  had  a  number  of 
children,  one  of  whom.  Charles,  was  a  farmer  of  that  region  and  took  up 
arms  for  his  countr^'  during  the  war  of  1812. 


252  BIOGRAPHICAL   IIISrORY   Of    11  Hi   lARST 

William  B.  Brown  was  a  son  of  Charles  Brown  and  was  born  near  Pitts- 
^rove,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  September  13,  1818,  and  grew  up  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer,  characteristic  of  many  of  his  ancestors.  He  was  a  man  of 
judgment  and  accumulated  a  large  acreage,  which  was  di\-ided  among  his 
heirs  after  hisdeath.  His  advice  was  much  sought  by  pcoiile  from  far  and 
near,  and  it  was  always  given  with  pleasure,  as  he  was  especially  desirous 
of  assisting  his  fellow  men.  He  was  a  good,  conscientious  man,  and  a  reg- 
ular attendant  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Daretown.  to  which  he  con- 
tributed liberally.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  Urion,  a  daughter  of 
-Andrew  Urion,  of  the  vicinity  of  Daretown,  and  a  sister  of  Samuel  Urion.  one 
of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  Penn's  Neck.  Mr.  Brown  passed  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  June  7,  1878,  and  was  survi\e(l  by  his  wife 
many  years,  her  death  taking  place  May  15,  1895.  Mrs.  Brown  was  a  lovable 
woman,  kind  and  motherly,  whose  heart  overflowed  with  Christian  charity, 
and  her  death  was  deeply  mourned.  Two  children  are  left  to  perpetuate  their 
name  and  memorv, — Thomas,  of  .Atlantic  Cit\'.  and  Hannah. 


WILLIAM  AVIS. 


The  subject  of  this  review.  Air.  .Avis,  owns  and  occupies  a  farm  near  Dare- 
town, Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  and  is  classed  with  the  respected  citizens 
of  the  county. 

Mr.  .A\"is  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  Penns\lvania,  .April  3.  1822,  a  son 
of  Edmund  .A\-is  and  a  grandson  of  John  .\vis.  The  .\\'ises  were  originall}' 
Moravians.  Their  first  settlement  in  this  country  was  in  Gloucester  connt\-. 
near  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey,  where  they  built  a  Moravian  church.  That 
was  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  John  Avis  was  a  patriot  soldier  in 
the  Revolution.  Both  he  and  his  son  Edward  were  shoemakers,  working- 
together  in  Philadelphia  for  some  years,  Edmund  continuing  at  his  trade 
after  his  removal  to  Swedesboro.  In  1838  he  located  on  the  farm  on  which 
his  son.  William,  now  lives,  and  in  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm  passed  the 
closing  years  of  his  life.  He  died  February  18,  1842.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  his  rlaily  life  practiced  the  principles  em- 
braced in  the  religion  which  he  professed.  His  wife,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
James  Fish,  died  in  1842.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living:  William,  whose  name  initiates  this  sketcli;  and  Re- 
becca, wife  of  James  Sealman,  of  Swedesboro. 

William  Avis  passed  his  boyhood  days  in  working  on  the  farm  and 
in  his  father's  shoe-shop,  and  for  the  most  part  his  life  has  been  devoted  to 


CO.\GRESSIO.\'AL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  253 

agricultural  pursuits.  Since  1882  he  has  resided  on  his  present  farm,  carry- 
ing on  general  farming,  and  making  a  specialty  of  the  poultry  business,  each 
year  shipping  large  quantities  of  poultry  to  New  York. 

November  18,  1846,  Mr.  Avis  married  Miss  Sarah  Ann  DuBois,  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  early  families  of  New  Jersey.  Her  father  was  Peter 
DuBois,  her  grandfather,  Thomas,  and  great-grandfather,  Peter,  were  Revo- 
lutionary soldiers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avis  have  had  eight  children,  only  two  of 
whom  are  now  living:    Neal  D.,  a  resident  of  Ohio;  and  Harriet  N.,  at  home. 

Religiously  Mr.  Avis  is  a  Presbyterian.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
church  since  1842,  and  in  both  church  and  Sunday-school  has  filled  official 
positions.  For  many  years  he  has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  church,  has  also 
served  as  a  trustee  and  elder,  and  for  years  he  was  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendent. Mr.  Avis  has  been  a  Republican  since  1856;  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1874;  and  while  he  has  always  taken  a  commendable  interest 
in  public  afYairs  and  party  issues,  he  has  never  been  in  any  sense  of  the  word  a 
politician.    As  a  citizen  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


STEPHEN  H.  BENNETT. 

Judge  Stephen  Hand  Bennett  is  now  living  a  retired  life  at  Cape  May 
Court  House.  He  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Cape  May  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Burleigh,  January  22,  1825.  His  parents  were  Joshua 
and  Emily  (Hand)  Bennett,  and  the  maiden  name  of  his  paternal  grand- 
mother was  Abigail  Stites.  The  latter  had  three  children,  the  eldest  being 
Joshua.  Cornelius,  the  second,  married  Hannah  Hand,  and  they  had  a  son, 
Henn,',  who  left  home  in  early  life,  became  a  sailor,  and  when  last  heard  of 
was  in  California.  For  his  second  wife  Cornelius  married  Rachel  Carson, 
and  their  children  were  Henry  and  Eliza.  Aaron  married  Mary  Hildreth,  a 
daughter  of  Squire  Joshua  Hildreth.  and  they  reared  a  large  family,  namely: 
Eliza,  wife  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Learning:  .\aron,  who  died  in  childhood;  Joseph- 
ine, widow  of  Alexander  Young,  who  for  many  years  was  a  medical  practi- 
tioner at  Cape  May  Court  House,  and  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter,  Joseph- 
ine; Edward,  a  practicing  physician  at  Barnegat;  Hannah,  wife  of  Edward 
Cresse,  a  farmer:  and  Mary  Ella. 

Joshua  Bennett,  the  father  of  the  Judge,  was  born  at  Green  Creek.  Cape 
May  county,  in  1786.  and  became  a  farmer  at  Burleigh.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  the  Democracy,  and  by  his  fellow  townsmen  he  was  called  to 
various  public  ofifices.  He  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Home  Guards  in 
the  war  of  1812.     He  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Emily 


254  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Hand,  bv  whom  lie  had  six  children.  Lydia,  the  eldest,  became  the  wife  of 
William  Ross,  and  their  children  were:  Rachel,  who  married  Coleman 
Sharp,  and  had  one  child,  Helen;  William,  who  was  lost  at  sea:  Charles 
Downs,  who  died  in  childhood:  and  Clementine,  who  liecame  the  wife  of 
Richard  E.  Homes,  and  had  one  child,  Angusta,  the  wife  of  John  Benezett, 
by  whom  she  had  two  children.  Cornelins,  the  second  of  the  family  of 
Joshua  and  Mary  Bennett,  married  Eliza  McCarty,  and  their  children  were: 
Hannah,  who  was  married  and  had  one  child:  Mrs.  Diana  Manning,  who  had 
one  child:  and  Warren,  who  was  an  engineer.  The  Judge  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth.  Joshua,  a  farmer,  married  Hulda  Hand,  and  their  children 
are:  Ella,  deceased  wife  of  Joseph  Cheney:  Harry  Emma;  and  Edmund,  a 
lawyer  of  Pennsylvania:  Emily  married  Joseph  Wilson,  a  proprietor  of  a 
hotel  in  Cape  May  City.  The  father  of  these  children  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

Judge  Stephen  Bennett  pursued  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cape  Mav  county  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  and  afterward  followed  various 
industrial  pursuits  until  1849,  when  he  joined  the  "Argonauts,"  who  in  that 
year  went  to  California  in  search  of  the  "golden  fleece."  He  made  the  journey 
through  the  strait  of  Magellan,  reaching  his  destination  after  seven  months 
of  travel.  For  two  years  he  remained  on  the  Pacific  slope,  and  then  returned 
on  a  Panama  steamer.  After  visiting  for  a  short  time  in  the  east,  however, 
he  again  went  to  California,  and  spent  about  ten  and  a  half  years  in  Shasta 
county.  He  first  engaged  in  mining  and  later  devoted  his  time  to  the  man- 
agement of  a  ranch.  Upon  his  permanent  return  to  Cape  May  county  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  for  five  years  was  identified  with  the  agricultural 
pursuits  of  this  community.  He  still  owns  what  is  known  as  the  Daniel 
Cresse  farm,  comprising  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  and  also  has  con- 
siderable timber  and  meadow  land,  his  possessions  yielding  to  him  a  good 
income.  He  served  for  seven  and  a  half  years  as  lay  judge  of  Cape  May 
countv,  being  retired  at  the  abolishment  of  the  office.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  marked  activity  in  business  affairs,  and  thus  he  has  acquired  a  capital 
which  crowns  his  labors. 

In  i860  the  Judge  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Ludlum.  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children.  Fredrick  W.,  the  elder,  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Cape  May  Court  House,  and  then  entered  upon  the  scien- 
tific course  in  Rutgers  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1882,  and  he  is  now  a  civil  engineer,  located  at  Ecuador,  South  America,  in 
the  employ  of  a  railroad  company.  He  has  traveled  over  many  of  the  coun- 
tries of  that  continent,  and  has  engaged  in  the  survey  for  a  railroad  from 
Guavaquil,  in  the  Andes,  to  Quito,  and  the  civil-engineer  work  which  he  has 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW   JERSEY.  255 

done  has  required  marked  ability  and  skill  in  the  line  of  his  profession. 
Leonora,  the  daughter  of  the  family,  is  now  acting  as  her  father's  house- 
keeper, for  Airs.  Bennett  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1879. 


REV.  JOSEPH  L.  SURTEES. 

Rev.  Joseph  Leybourne  Surtees,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Elmer,  New  Jersey,  is  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  education,  but 
has  been  identified  with  America  since  1888,  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has 
been  a  potent  factor  in  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Surtees  claims  Consett,  Durham  county,  England,  as  his  native 
place,  and  can  trace  his  lineage  back  to  the  days  of  William  the  Conqueror, 
with  whom  liis  ancestors  came  from  Denmark  to  the  British  isles.  His 
father  and  grandfather  were  both  named  Robert  Surtees,  and  both  were  born 
in  Scotland.  The  younger  Robert  Surtees  was  a  grocer  in  England,  having 
settled  in  Consett,  Durham  county,  when  a  young  man.  He  was  the  orig- 
inator of  the  Consett  water  system,  bringing  water  a  distance  of  many  miles 
from  the  Clapshaw  Moors.  A  successful  business  man,  he  became  one  of  the 
well-to-do  and  influential  men  of  his  town.  Religiously  he  was  a  Methodist 
and  politically  a  Li1)eral.  He  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  serving  for  years 
as  chairman  of  the  county  committee  of  his  party.  He  died  in  1886.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Leybourne,  was  a  daughter  of 
Edward  Leybourne,  who  belonged  to  the  famous  Angus  clan,  a  clan  cele- 
brated years  ago  for  its  great  fighters.  I\Irs.  Surtees  died  in  1894.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Tamar, 
the  wife  of  Adam  Brodie,  of  England:  John,  of  England;  Robert,  the  super- 
intendent of  the  rolling  mills  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey;  Joseph  L.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;   and  Peter,  of  England. 

Joseph  L.  Surtees  was  educated  at  the  Shortley  Grove  Academy  in 
England,  completing  his  course  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  for  two 
years  thereafter  was  a  tutor  in  that  institution.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Consett  Steel  Company,  with  which  he  remained 
until  1888,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  In  1889  he  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has  since  been  an 
active  and  effective  worker.  His  first  charge  was  at  Columbus,  New  Jersey. 
From  there  he  was  sent  to  West  Creek,  in  Ocean  county,  and  his  next 
pastorate  was  in  connection  with  the  Kaighn  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  South  Camden.  Referring  to  his  work  at  the  latter  place,  we  quote 
from  a  local  paper  as  follows:     "Last  Sunday  was  an  eventful  day  in  the 


256  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

histon-  of  the  Kais^lm  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  marking 
as  it  did  the  close  of  the  ijastoral  work  of  Rev.  J.  L.  Surtees.  which 
has  extended  over  a  ]')erio(l  of  four  and  one-half  year.s.  In  ])oint  of 
success  his  work  is  almost  un])aralleled  in  the  history  of  Alcthodism  in  this 
city,  if  not  in  the  New  Jersey  conference.  The  menihership  of  the  church 
has  heen  increased  from  a  score  of  wavering,  disheartened  people  to  two 
hundred  earnest,  faithful  and  energetic  men  and  women,  who  have  taken  a 
firm  stand  for  Christ  and  are  determined  that  this  church  shall  become  a 
great  power  for  good  in  South  Camden.  *  ="  *  On  Monday  evening  a 
band  of  well-wishers  gathered  to  say  good-bye.  The  parsonage  proved  too 
small  for  the  occasion,  and  all  repaired  to  the  church,  filling  the  prayer- 
meeting  room  to  overflowing.  Appropriate  speeches  were  made  and  a 
general  ovation  was  tendered  the  pastor  and  his  wife."  Mr.  Surtees  has  been 
at  his  present  charge  at  Elmer  one  year,  and  here,  as  elsewhere,  his  earnest 
efforts  have  met  with  signal  success. 

Three  years  previous  to  his  coming  to  America.  May  29,  1885,  Mr. 
Surtees  married  Miss  Martha  Elliott,  of  Blanchland.  Northumberland 
county,  England,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living: 
Nora,  Elliott.  Winefred,  Oscar  and  Vincent.  Mr.  Surtees  is  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 


HARVEY    E.    BOWLES,   M.  D. 

In  the  studv  of  so  eminently  a  ])ractical  and  useful  life  as  that  of  the 
honored  subject  of  this  memoir  we  find  an  opulence  of  incentive,  and  are 
irresistibly  moved  to  the  according  of  respect,  admiration  and  veneration. 
He  has  passed  the  seventy-sixth  mile  stone  on  the  journey  of  life,  and  his 
career  has  been  an  honorable,  active  and  useful  one;  and  now  in  the  sunset 
hours  he  can  look  back  over  the  past  without  regret,  for  he  has  accomplished 
much,  making  the  most  of  all  his  opportunities  and  making  marked  advance- 
ment in  fields  of  intellectual  research  as  well  as  in  professional  life.  As  a 
journalist  and  physician  he  won  distinction  and  in  all  relations  commanded 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 

Dr.  Harvey  E.  Bowles  was  born  in  Chelsea.  Vermont,  May  8,  1823,  his 
parents  being  Clapp  and  Rhoda  (Harper)  Bowles,  both  representatives  of 
old  New  England  families,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  the 
latter  of  Vermont.  In  his  second  year  the  Doctor  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  reared,  completing  his  literary 
education  in  the  high  school  at  Northampton.    At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 


VlcyvV4M  '^^fwL  ^(y^^.yi\%. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  257 

he  entered  the  printing  office  and  learned  the  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  afterward  owned  and  conducted  a  paper  in 
Brattleboro.  Vermont,  known  as  the  Semi-Weekly  Eagle.  He  had  pre- 
viously published  a  paper  in  Cabotville,  now  Chicopee,  Massachusetts, 
called  The  Chronicle,  and  while  working  as  a  journeyman  printer  he  was 
employed  on  the  Emancipator,  published  in  Boston.  In  1846  he  met  with 
reverses  in  his  journalistic  career,  owing  to  the  mismanagement  of  the 
editor,  and  was  forced  to  suspend.  He  then  went  south  in  search  of  em- 
ployment and  after  meeting  with  many  hardships  and  difficulties  he  at  length 
succeeded  in  securing  a  school  in  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  for  three  years. 

While  conducting  his  paper  in  Brattleboro.  Vermont,  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine,  which  he  pursued  under  rather  peculiar  circumstances,  being 
able  to  devote  to  study  only  the  time  in  which  he  went  to  and  from  his  meals. 
For  a  year,  however,  he  continued  his  studies  in  that  manner  and  then 
entered  the  Central  Medical  College  of  New  York,  at  Rochester,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1852.  In  i860  he  was  graduated  in  the  Eclectic  Medical 
College  at  Philadelphia,  and  thus  well  equipped  for  his  chosen  profession 
he  began  practice  near  Rochester,  New  York,  where  he  remained  for  a  little 
more  than  a  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  removed  to  Colburn, 
Canada,  later  resided  in  Pictou,  Canada,  spending  twelve  years  in  the  British 
possessions.  In  1864  he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  entered  the  army 
as  a  contract  surgeon,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  Rebellion,  during  which 
time  he  had  charge  of  the  Grosvenor  Hospital  in  Alexandria.  Virginia,  and 
of  Fort  Whipple. 

After  the  close  of  the  war.  Dr.  Bowles  came  to  Hammonton.  where  he 
has  since  resided,  and  is  the  oldest  physician  in  the  town.  For  many  years 
he  had  a  large  patronage,  but  in  1871  he  retired  from  practice  on  account 
of  ill  health,  and  in  1872  he  purchased  the  South  Jersey  Republican,  which 
he  published  for  eight  years.  He  made  it  one  of  the  best  journals  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  through  its  columns  strongly  endorsing  the  principles 
of  the  Republican  party  and  largely  promoting  its  interests  by  his  incon- 
trovertible statements.  On  the  i6th  of  August,  1886,  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  pension  examiners,  holding  the  office  during  one  year  of  the 
Cleveland  administration,  when  he  was  retired;  but  when  the  Republicans 
again  came  into  power  he  was  once  more  appointed,  serving  through  the 
second  administration  of  Cleveland.  Since  that  time  he  has  not  been  actively 
connected  with  any  public  duties  or  private  business  affairs,  the  evening  of 
his  life  being  spent  in  quiet  and  honorable  retirement.  He  has  labored 
earnestly  in  the  development  of  the  section  of  the  state  in  which  he  resides 

II— Q 


258  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

and  Iiis  support  has  been  given  to  the  many  measures  for  the  public  good 
whereby  the  general  welfare  has  been  greatly  enhanced. 

On  the  1 2th  of  May,  1845,  Dr.  Bowles  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Priscilla  West  Eaton,  a  granddaughter  of  Major  Isaiah  Eaton,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame,  and  a  second  cousin  of  the  distinguished  painter,  Benjamin 
West.  She  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  August  16,  1823,  and  died 
August  21,  1896.  In  their  family  were  four  children,  Edward  Lyvere,  who 
resides  in  Jersey  City  and  is  engaged  in  merchandising  in  New  York  city; 
Frederick  Theodore,  who  makes  his  home  in  Elmira,  New  York,  and  is  a 
representative  of  the  Florence  Silk  Company;  Frank  Isaiah,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  Potter  Silk 
Manufacturing  Company;  and  Carrie  Grace,  the  deceased  wife  of  Alfred  H. 
Whitmore,  of  Hammonton.  The  Doctor  also  has  seven  grandchildren.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the 
General  D.  A.  Russell  Post,  No.  68,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  has  been  the  sur- 
geon since  its  organization.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  individuality  and 
strong  force  of  character,  of  scholarly  attainments,  and  in  the  best  and  truest 
sense  of  the  word  is  a  gentleman.  The  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  which 
win  admiration  and  respect  are  his  and  have  gained  him  prominence  in 
business,  political  and  social  circles.  At  the  close  of  an  honorable  and  well 
spent  life  he  is  held  in  veneration  by  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor,  and  his 
many  friends  are  desirous  that  his  days  may  yet  be  long  upon  the  earth. 


JEREDIAH   DU   BOIS. 


Jerediah  Du  Bois  was  born  in  Upper  Pitts  Grove  township,  Salem 
county.  New  Jersey,  December  6,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Wilford  O.  and  Sabil- 
lah  P.  (Newkirk)  Du  Bois.  His  paternal  grandfather.  Jerediah  Du  Bois,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  same  township  and  by  occupation  was  a  farmer,  and  for 
many  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  However,  he  devoted  part  of  his  time 
and  energies  to  merchandising  in  Alloway,  but  died' in  his  native  township. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  belief  a  Presbyterian.  He 
married  Ann  H.  Adcock,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children:  Isaac  A., 
a  miller  and  farmer  who  married  Harriet  Hitchner;  Wilford:  and  Charles  S., 
who  is  living  in  the  west.  The  grandfather  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years, 
and  the  grandmother  was  se\'enty-eight  years  of  age  when  called  to  the  home 
beyond. 

Wilford  Du  Bois  was  bom  in  Upper  Pitts  Grove  township,  attended  the 
public  schools  there  and  is  now  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  259 

that  community.  He  married  Miss  Newkirk,  and  to  them  were  1)orn  five 
children,  but  their  eldest  died  in  infancy.  Jerediah  is  the  next  of  the  family. 
Mills  Newkirk  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Lewis  Brantley  also  is  an 
exhorter  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  assistant  Sunday-school 
superintendent;  Charles,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Du  Bois,  the  father,  also  holds  a  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  Republican,  exercising  his  right  of 
franchise  in  the  support  of  the  men  and  measures  best  calculated  to  serve 
the  interests  of  the  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  still  living,  the  former 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years. 

The  elementary  education  which  Jerediah  Du  Bois  obtained  in  the  com- 
mon schools  was  supplemented  ])y  a  course  in  Peirce's  Business  College,  and 
thus  well  equipped  for  the  practical  duties  of  life  he  became  connected  with 
journalism,  being  for  six  years  an  employe  in  the  office  of  the  Elmer  Times. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  purchased  the  Five  Mile  Beech  Journal 
of  his  former  employer,  Samuel  P.  Foster,  and  is  now  editing  that  journal, 
which  is  independent  in  politics  and  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the 
town.  It  is  issued  weekly  and  is  a  four-column  sheet  of  eight  pages,  having 
a  circulation  of  four  hundred.  Mr.  Du  Bois  also  conducts  a  job  printing- 
office  and  is  doing  a  good  business  in  that  line.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  his  town,  and  is  serving  as 
boro  clerk  of  Wildwood-by-the-Sea.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of 
health,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a  Repuljlican.  He  holds  a  member- 
ship in  the  [Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Elmer  and  is  a  representative  of 
Aeolian  Council,  No.  42,  J.  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and  Friendship  Lodge,  No.  45, 
A.  O.  L.  W.  He  is  a  young  man  of  marked  industry  and  enterprise  and  a 
successful  future  undoubtedly  awaits  him. 


B.  W.  ANDREWS. 


To  this  gentleman  is  due  that  tribute  of  respect  and  admiration  which  is 
always  given — and  justly  so — to  those  men  who  have  worked  their  way 
upward  to  positions  of  prominence  through  their  own  efforts,  who  have 
achieved  wealth  through  their  own  labors,  and  by  their  honorable,  straight- 
forward dealing  commanded  the  esteem  and  trust  of  those  with  whom  they 
have  been  thrown  in  contact.  He  is  numbered  among  the  representative 
men  of  Philadelphia,  where  he  is  successfully  and  extensively  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  business,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  one  who  more 
fully  and  ably  typifies  the  American  spirit  of  enterprise,  progress  and  un- 


26o  BIOCRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

faltering  persistence.  A  man  df  t;roal  natural  ability,  his  success  in  l)usiness 
has  been  uniform  and  rapid,  and  the  material  prosperity  of  the  city  lias 
been  largely  promoted  through  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Andrews  maintains  his  residence  in  New  Jersey,  his  birtli  having 
occurred  November  30,  1838,  on  a  farm  near  Woodbury.  He  now  makes  his 
home  in  Woodljury.  The  family  is  of  English  lineage,  and  many  generations 
have  resided  in  Gloucester  county,  their  energies  being  devoted  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  Josiah  R.  Andrews,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  occurred  the  birth  of  B.  W.  Andrews,  and  throughout  his  life 
he  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  He  was  very  enterprising  and  progres- 
sive in  his  farming  methods  and  was  very  fond  of  good  horses,  always  owning 
some  fine  animals.  He  married  Achsah  Cooper,  a  daughter  of  David 
Cooper,  of  Gloucester  county,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living:  D.  Cooper,  a  resident  of  Woodbury;  and  B.  W.,  of 
this  sketch.  The  father  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  died  in 
1842,  and  his  wife,  long  surviving  him,  passed  away  in  1879. 

B.  W.  jVndrews  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  farm,  and  few  were  the 
advantages  which  he  enjoyed.  He  worked  in  the  fields  through  seven 
months  of  the  year,  and  during  the  remaining  five  months  he  pursued  his 
education  in  the  district  school  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1850  he  also  drove 
the  first  milk  wagon  that  delivered  milk  to  the  residents  of  Woodbury,  per- 
forming that  task  before  going  to  school  in  the  morning.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  left  the  farm,  and  as  early  as  1856  he  worked  for  the  wholesale 
grocery  firm  of  George  Ogden  &  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  In  September 
of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  employ  of  B.  S.  Janney  &  Company,  at  No. 
605  Market  street,  and  continued  with  that  house,  being  promoted  from  time 
to  time  as  he  mastered  the  different  tasks  assigned  him  and  thus  indicated  his 
fitness  for  greater  responsibility.  On  the  ist  of  February,  1862,  he  was 
admitted  to  a  partnership  in  the  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Janney  & 
Andrews,  which  relation  was  maintained  until  July  i,  1891,  when  the  firm 
was  dissolved  and  that  of  B.  W.  Andrews  &  Company  was  formed. 

The  large  wholesale  house  of  this  firm  is  located  at  Nos.  10  and  12  North 
Front  street.  They  do  an  extensive  business  in  groceries  and  as  commis- 
sion merchants,  handling  canned  goods.  Besides  the  large  force  in  the  house 
they  employ  twenty  traveling  salesmen,  who  cover  thoroughly  New  Jersey. 
Pennsylvania.  Delaware  and  Maryland  and  also  sell  to  other  states.  Their 
output  has  become  very  large  and  their  business  has  assumed  mammoth 
proportions,  giving  them  a  prominent  position  among  the  leading  whole- 
sale merchants  of  the  state.  For  forty-three  years  Mr.  Andrews  has  been 
connected  with  the  house,  and  his  eft'orts  have  contributed  in  a  very  large 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  261 

measure  to  its  success.  He  has  been  twice  president  of  the  Grocers  and  Im- 
porters' Exchange  of  Philadelphia,  serving  in  1885  and  again  in  1893.  He  is 
now  the  president  of  the  Wholesale  Grocers'  Association  of  Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey  and  Delaware. 

Mr.  Andrews  is  a  man  of  resourceful  business  aljility,  and  his  efforts  have 
by  no  means  been  confined  to  one  line  of  endeavor.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Western  National  Bank  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  been  the  promoter  of  other 
enterprises,  while  at  all  times  he  gives  his  support  to  those  measures  and 
movements  which  are  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 

Mr.  Andrews  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  C.  Smallwood,  of  Woodbury.  She  was  of  the  sixth  generation 
from  Letitia  Penn,  a  daughter  of  William  Penn,  whose  second  husband  was 
a  Smallwood.  She  died  January  4,  1881,  leaving  a  daughter,  Lucille.  For 
his  second  wife  Mr.  Andrews  chose  Jennie  B.  Evans,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Owen  Evans,  of  Philadelphia,  their  marriage  being  celebrated  April  29,  1884. 
They  also  have  a  daughter.  Bertha.  Theirs  is  one  of  the  palatial  homes  of 
Woodbury,  celebrated  as  a  place  of  gracious  hospitality.  It  is  adorned  with 
all  the  luxuries,  furnishings  and  works  of  art  that  wealth,  guided  by  a  refined 
taste,  could  suggest,  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  residences  in  this  sec- 
tion of  New  Jersey.  A  deed  for  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
and  around  Woodburj',  given  by  the  sons  of  William  Penn  to  the  great- 
grandfather of  Mr.  Andrews,  is  now  in  his  possession,  which  fact  indicates 
that  he  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  state.  For  twent}-  years 
he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Woodbury,  and  his  lib- 
eral contributions  to  the  organization  have  materially  advanced  its  labors 
and  influence.  He  is  one  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the  State  Insane 
Asylum,  at  Trenton,  and  is  the  vice  president  of  the  Woodbury  Country 
Club.  He  finds  great  pleasure  and  needed  recreation  in  fishing  and  driving, 
and  is  the  owner  of  some  fine  horses.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  personal  appear- 
ance, of  genial  manner  and  courteous  deportment,  and  wherever  he  goes 
wins  friends.  His  success  has  been  remarkable,  yet  has  been  achieved  along 
legitimate  business  lines.  It  is  doulitful  whether  in  any  country  the  con- 
ditions exist  which  render  ])ossible  such  achievements  as  America  has  wit- 
nessed, and  the  lives  of  such  men  as  Air.  Andrews  should  serve  as  a  stimulus 
to  the  youth  of  our  land,  as  illustrating  what  may  be  accomplished  under 
even  the  most  adverse  condition.  He  had  no  special  advantages  or  influen- 
tial friends  to  aid  him,  but  from  the  first  his  ambition  was  an  honorable  and 
lofty  one,  and  his  life  history  proves  conclusively  that  where  there  is  a  will 
a  way  may  be  found.  He  stands  to-day  as  one  of  the  leading  and  most 
respected  wholesale  merchants  of  Philadelphia,  and  what  he  has  done  others 


262 


BIOCRAI'HICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 


can  do  if  tlicy  will  but  exercise  the  same  (lualities  and  determination  tliat  he 
has  shown. 


SAMUEL    E.    SAMPSON. 

It  is  astonishing  with  what  rapidity  the  towns  along  the  New  Jersey 
coast  have  l)een  estahlislied  and  developed.  Each  year  many  htmdreds  of 
people,  tired  of  the  hurr\-  and  bustle  of  city  life,  seek  quiet  and  rest  b\-  the 
sea.  where  they  can  enjo\-  the  cool  ocean  breezes  and  the  ever  \arying 
beauty  of  the  Atlantic.  In  consequence  attractive  towns  have  been  Intilded 
by  the  seaside,  and  with  one  of  these  beautiful  and  attractive  municipal  cor- 
porations Mr.  Sampson  is  now  prominently  identified.  He  came  to  Ocean 
City  almost  two  decades  ago,  and  since  his  arrival  has  been  actively  asso- 
ciated with  its  building  interests  and  some 
of  the  most  beautiful  homes  and  pleasing 
cottages  have  been  erected  under  his  super- 
vision. They  are,  therefore,  an  enduring 
testimonial  of  his  ability,  and  well  indicate 
that  he  is  worthy  of  the  liberal  patronage 
which  he  receives  in  the  line  of  his  business. 
At  Smith's  Landing,  on  the  7th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1850,  Samuel  Sampson  was  born,  his 
l)arents  being  Samuel  and  Thama  (Price) 
."Sampson.  The  family  name  is  of  Scotch 
urigin,  but  little  is  known  concerning  the 
early  history  of  its  representatives  in  the 
New  World.  The  father  of  our  subject  re- 
sided at  Smith's  Landing,  Atlantic  county, 
liLMii  N'  I  ..1  ,  1,  sAMi-.>.  for   man\'   years,   after  which   he   removed 

to  Steelmanville  and  tliere  died.  A  well-known  merchant,  he  engaged  in 
the  grocer)-  and  dry-goods  business  and  also  devoted  his  energies  to  some 
extent  to  the  raising  and  shipping  of  oysters.  He  married  Miss  Price  and 
they  became  the  jiarents  of  a  large  family,  numbering  eleven  children. 
Neven,  the  eldest,  died  in  childhood.  Lydia  married  Charles  Stetser,  a  sea 
captain,  and  their  children  were  William,  Samuel,  Charles  and  Mary,  the 
last  named  the  wife  of  George  Anderson.  Alice  married  John  Hockman, 
a  ship  car]:)enter,  and  they  had  two  daughters,  Kate  and  Sally,  but  the  latter 
died  in  childhood.  Hasadiah.  a  seafaring  man.  was  three  times  married, 
his  first  iniion  being  with  Charlotte  \V'oolbert.  his  second  with  Isabel  Steel- 
man,  bv  whom  he  had  two  children.  Lottie  and  Howard,  and  his  third  union 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   .V£[f  JERSEY.  263 

was  with  Emily  Robinson,  their  children  being  Hasadiah.  Arthur,  Emma, 
Horace  and  John.  Rachel  became  the  wife  of  Brazier  Penn,  a  seafaring  man, 
and  they  had  four  children:  Anna  Nettie:  Lizzie:  Vrilla.  who  became  Mrs. 
Rose;  and  Sarah,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  Samuel  B.  is  the 
next  of  the  family.  Charles,  who  was  a  tinsmith  and  dealer  in  stoves  in 
Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  married  Lizzie  Stewart,  and  their  children  are  Rov, 
John  and  Lizzie,  the  last  named  now  deceased.  Daniel,  a  tinsmith  and  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Ocean  City,  married  Ella  Parks,  who  died  leaving  two 
children,  Charles  and  Bertha,  and  after  her  death  he  married  Annie  E. 
Doughty.  Lizzie  died  in  childhood.  Annie,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Powell,  a  wheelwright  at  Linwood,  New  Jersey,  by 
whom  she  has  f^ve  children.— Nelda,  Mollie,  Milard,  Earl  and  Lizzie. '  The 
parents  of  this  family  were  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  work,  Mr.  Sampson  serving  as  church 
steward.  His  political  support  was  given  to  the  Democracy.  He  died  in 
1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

Samuel  B.  Sampson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Atlantic 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  put  aside  his  text-books  to  learn  the 
more  difficult  lessons  of  life  from  the  school  of  experience.  His  first  under- 
taking was  in  connection  with  the  oyster  business  at  Steelmanville,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  raising  and  shipping  of  oysters.  For  six  years  he  carried 
on  business  there,  meeting  with  a  fair  degree  of  success,  and  then  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  has  followed  continuously  since.  In  the 
spring  of  1880  he  came  to  Ocean  City,  purchased  the  first  land  sold  by  an 
association,  which  was  located  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  West  streets, 
and  he  erected  there  two  residences,  one  of  which  he  still  owns.  He  also 
owns  a  fine  property  on  Ninth  street  and  Asbury  avenue,  built  by  him  in 
the  year  1888.  He  was  the  first  contractor  and  builder  at  Ocean  Citv  and 
has  ever  occupied  a  place  among  the  leading  representatives  of  this  enter- 
prise. The  first  house  of  any  considerable  size  here,  the  Bellevue,  was  built 
by  him  for  L  B.  Smith.  He  was  for  a  time  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Sampson, 
Steelman  &  English,  but  subsequently  withdrew  and  is  now  carrying  on 
business  alone.  He  has  a  thorough,  practical  knowledge  of  his  trade  and  has 
secured  a  liberal  patronage.  He  has  erected  altogether  about  sixty  cottages 
at  this  place,  and  in  1896  he  built  a  handsome  residence  for  himself  on 
Wesley  avenue,  at  a  cost  of  forty-six  hundred  dollars.  He  is  his  own  drafts- 
man and  architect.  In  connection  with  his  brother  Daniel  he  is  also  the 
owner  of  a  farm  in  Atlantic  county,  and  its  substantial  improvements,  verdant 
meadows  and  oyster  beds  make  it  a  valuable  property.  In  addition  to  the 
residence  which  he  owns  in  Ocean  City  he  has  a  boathouse  at  Fourth  street 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

and  Bay  avenue  where  can  be  found  some  of  the  finest  sail  and  row  boats  that 
plow  the  waters  of  the  great  Egg  liarbor  bay.  During  the  summer  months 
he  makes  it  his  Inisiness  to  conduct  sailing  and  fishing  parties.  He  is  also 
a  director  of  the  Ocean  City  Building  &  Loan  Association,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers. 

On  the  I2th  of  March,  1887,  Mr.  Sampson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lizzie  English,  a  daughter  of  Elmer  English,  a  sea  captain  residing  at 
Somers  Point,  Atlantic  county.  In  political  circles  Mr.  Sampson  is  a 
Republican  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  two  terms, 
being  now  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He  is  also  a  member  and 
the  treasurer  of  the  Ocean  City  volunteer  fire  company.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  church  work,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has 
served  both  as  a  steward  and  a  trustee.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  order 
of  Knights  of  Pythias.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he  has  been  a  prominent 
factor  not  only  in  its  material  development  but  also  in  fraternal  and  political 
circles,  and  as  a  public-spirited  citizen  advocates  everything  which  is  intended 
for  the  public  good.  Such  men  well  deserve  mention  among  the  represent- 
ative citizens  of  this  commonwealth. 


A.  G.  SILVER. 


Not  a  man  of  local  repute  alone  in  business,  Ijut  known  also  in  commer- 
cial circles  throughout  a  wide  section  of  country,  Mr.  Silver's  name  is  synon- 
ymous with  honorable  dealing.  His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring  activity  and 
has  been  crowned  with  a  degree  of  success  attained  by  comparatively  few. 
He  is  of  the  highest  type  of  business  men,  and  none  more  than  he  deserves 
a  fitting  recognition  among  the  men  whose  hardy  genius  and  splendid  abili- 
ties have  achieved  results  that  are  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  all.  In  his 
financial  success,  unblemished  business  record  and  steadily  expanding  field 
of  usefulness  in  life's  pursuits,  Clayton  and  southern  New  Jersey  may  well 
feel  a  personal  pride  and  interest.  He  is  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word  a 
representative  American  citizen,  progressive  in  commercial  circles,  and  at  all 
times  loyal  to  the  interests  of  the  state  and  nation. 

Mr.  Silver  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  families  of  New  Jersey  of  English 
lineage,  his  ancestry  being  traced  back  to  Sanniel  Silver,  who  came  from 
the  mother  country  to  tlie  New  World  in  colonial  days.  His  son,  David 
Silver,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  waj>  a  native  of  Port  Elizabeth,  Cum- 
berland county;  and  Samuel  Silver,  the  father,  w^as  born  in  that  place,  July 
9,  1835.     Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  was  married,  in  1856,  to 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  265 

Sidney  McCoy,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  children:  A.  G.,  of  this 
sketch;  Emma,  wife  of  M.  F.  DuBois,  surrogate  of  Clayton;  and  Sam,  who 
is  successfully  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  in  Clayton  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  as  the  assessor  of  his  township,  being  elected  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  registracy  for  seven 
years.  The  father,  Samuel  Silver,  Sr.,  came  to  Port  Elizabeth  in  1862, 
learned  the  glass  business  and  became  a  glass  finisher.  For  many  years  he 
followed  that  business,  but  is  now  living  retired,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  is  a  valued  representative  of 
the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  fraternities.  In  1864  he  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  but  he  is  still  living, — an  esteemed  citizen  of 
Clayton. 

To  the  public-school  system  of  the  state  Mr.  Silver  is  indebted  for  the 
educational  privileges  which  he  received.  He  left  the  school-room  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  and  started  out  upon  his  business  career  by  learning  the  tin- 
smith's trade,  which  he  mastered  in  every  detail,  becoming  an  expert  work- 
man. In  1879  he  opened  a  store  of  his  own,  dealing  in  stoves,  tinware  and 
plumbers'  supplies  and  doing  a  tinsmith's  and  plumber's  business.  This 
enterprise  brought  him  good  financial  return  and  at  length  he  was  enabled  to 
extend  the  field  of  his  labors.  He  established  a  factory  in  Clayton  and  began 
the  manufacture  of  shirts  and  shirt  waists.  This  he  conducted  until  January, 
1899,  when  he  consolidated  his  business  with  that  of  a  manufacturing  concern 
of  Philadelphia.  The  Penn  Manufacturing  Company  was  then  organized 
and  he  became  its  vice  president.  This  concern  is  now  extensively  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  shirt  waists  and  has  a  factory  both  in  Clayton  and  in 
Philadelphia,  employing  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  operatives  in 
both  places.  Their  output  is  accordingly  very  large  and  finds  a  ready  sale 
on  the  market  owing  to  the  excellent  quality  of  the  goods  and  to  the  reason- 
able prices  and  honorable  dealing  of  the  company. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1878  Mr.  Silver  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Martha  H.  Long,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Long,  of  Williamstown,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children,  of  whom  Jennie  and  Svdney  are 
at  home.  Frank,  the  second  son,  is  now  deceased.  In  his  political  views 
]\Ir.  Silver  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  a  recognized  leader  in  the  ranks  of 
his  party  in  Clayton.  In  1881  he  was  elected  assessor  and  filled  that  position 
for  nine  consecutive  years.  For  three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  city 
council,  and  in  1892  he  was  elected  freeholder,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
twice  re-elected  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  His  loyalty  to  the  public  trust 
is  most  marked  and  his  able  service  is  indicated  by  his  long  continuation  in 
office.     He  is  a  member  and  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  has 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

also  served  as  treasurer  and  was  formerly  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge,  was  its  treasurer,  and  also  holds  a  member- 
ship in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Eagle.  His  has  been  a  prosperous  and  honorable  career.  Concen- 
trated individual  efifort,  guided  by  sound  judgment  and  most  reliable  business 
principles,  has  brought  to  him  a  measure  of  success  of  which  he  may  be 
justly  proud,  and  to-day,  in  both  commercial  and  social  circles,  he  has  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  associates. 


JAMES  W.  DAVIS. 


James  \\\  Davis,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  was  mitil  recently  a 
resident  of  Woodbury.  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Davis  belongs  to 
a  family  that  has  so  long  been  associated  with  the  more  prosperous  and 
influential  element  of  the  community  that  he  needs  no  introduction  to  its 
residents.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Catherine  (Zanders)  Davis  and  was 
born  March  3,  1866,  in  the  city  of  Camden,  this  state,  the  birthplace  of  his 
family  for  generations.  This  family  of  Davises  originally  came  from  Wales, 
and  the  grandfather,  John  Davis,  was  a  life-long  resident  of  Camden,  where 
he  followed  the  vocation  of  a  mechanical  engineer.  He  left  six  children  to 
perpetuate  his  memory, — James,  George.  William,  Samuel,  Sarah  (Mrs. 
WHiitehead),  and  one  son  who  died  in  earl_\-  life. 

James  Davis,  his  son  and  the  father  of  our  subject,  spent  his  early  life  in 
his  native  city,  Camden,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  mechanical  and 
marine  engineering.  He  subsequently  moved  to  the  state  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  machinist  for  some  time,  and  then  accepted  the 
position  of  chief  engineer  on  the  Morgan,  and  later  on  the  Mallory,  steam- 
ship, where  he  remained  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  in  June,  1896, 
at  Summitville,  New  York,  whither  he  had  gone  to  recuperate  his  health. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Catherine  Zanders,  who  died  July  11,  1876.  Three  chil- 
dren were  theirs:  Blanche,  deceased,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Statsy;  John  and 
James  W. 

James  W.  Davis  was  given  the  advantage  of  a  good  schooling,  first 
attending  the  public  schools  and  later  the  Philadelphia  College.  Leaving 
college  he  became  associated  with  the  firm  of  Charles  Lautenbach  &  Com- 
pany, for  whom  he  acted  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  five  years.  He  then 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Furbush  &  Son  Machine  Company,  also  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  reinained  with  them  four  years.     In  1895  the  Woodbury  Hy- 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   .V£/C   JERSEY.  267 

geia  Ice  &  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized,  a  stock  company  being 
formed  with  James  \V.  Davis  as  secretary,  which  position  he  held  until 
recently. 

^Ir.  Davis  was  married  in  Camden,  June  10,  1886,  to  Miss  Annie  Dor- 
man,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Dorman,  of  that  city,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  bright  children. — Mamie,  Emma,  Ver- 
non and  Blanche.  They  are  attendants  of  the  Baptist  church  and  are  hon- 
orable, conscientious  citizens  who  have  the  esteem  and  respect  of  the 
community  in  which  they  reside. 


EDWARD  G.  MILLER. 


For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Miller  has  been  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  Paulsboro,  where  he  is  now  dealing  in  lumber,  coal 
and  hardware.  He  was  born  in  this  locality  on  the  26th  of  September.  1839, 
and  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  in  Pennington  and 
Chester.  When  his  text-books  were  laid  aside  he  directed  his  energies 
toward  agricultural  pursuits,  and  successfully  carried  on  farming  until  1871. 
He  is  still  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fanning  land  and 
derives  therefrom  a  good  income.  In  the  year  mentioned  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Paulsboro,  where  he  opened  a  hardware  store  and  coal  and  lum- 
ber yards,  and  from  the  beginning  he  has  met  with  creditable  and  gratifying 
success.  He  carries  a  large  line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  and  lay  his 
uniform  courtesy,  reasonable  prices  and  honorable  dealing  has  secured  a 
liberal  patronage.  He  has  also  a  good  coal  and  lumber  trade  and  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  enterprising  merchants  and  substantial  business  men  of 
the  town.  Nor  have  his  efforts  been  confined  alone  to  these  lines,  for  he 
took  an  active  part  in  building  Lincoln  park  and  in  securing  the  Delaware 
River  Railroad.  These  have  proved  of  material  benefit  to  the  city,  the 
former  adding  to  its  attractive  appearance,  the  latter  to  its  commercial  pros- 
perity. No  measure  or  movement  calculated  to  advance  the  general  welfare 
seek  his  aid  in  vain,  and  he  is  widely  recognized  as  a  progressi\-e  and  public- 
spirited  man. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Miller  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  keeps  well 
informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  His  fellow  townsmen,  appreciating  his 
worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called  him  to  public  ofifice,  and  his  duties 
are  discharged  in  a  most  able  manner.  In  1865  he  was  chosen  freeholder 
for  a  three  years'  term,  and  in  1890  he  was  again  elected  to  that  ofifice,  in 
which  he  has  since  continuously  served,  his  long  continuance  in  ofifice  plainlv 


268  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

indicating  his  tidelity  to  the  pubHc  trust.  Socially  he  is  a  very  prominent 
Mason,  holding  membership  in  the  lodge,  chapter,  commandery  and  in  Lu 
Ln  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 

Mr.  Miller  has  been  three  times  married.  He  first  wedded  Anna  D.  Gill, 
a  daughter  of  Matthew  Gill,  of  Paulsboro.  She  died  in  1871,  and  in  1886  he 
married  Mary  J.  Paul,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Paul.  They  became  the  parents 
of  three  children:  Joseph  P.,  who  is  employed  in  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
office,  at  Philadelphia;  Ed  E.,  who  is  at  school;  and  Anna  G.,  at  home. 
The  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  May  28,  1896,  and  in  February,  1899. 
Mr.  ^filler  married  Ella,  a  daughter  of  Senator  D.  J.  Packer,  of  Woodbury. 
An  identification  of  more  than  twenty-eight  years  with  the  business  interests 
of  Paulsboro  has  not  only  numbered  Mr.  Miller  among  its  older  merchants 
but  has  gained  him  both  a  prestige  and  patronage  that  are  only  accorded 
those  whose  merit  entitles  them  to  be  enumerated  among  the  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  place.  Concentrated  individual  eft'ort,  guided  by  sound 
judgment  and  most  reliable  business  principles,  has  brought  to  him  a  meas- 
ure of  success  of  which  he  may  be  justly  proud,  and  to-day,  in  both  commer- 
cial and  social  circles,  he  has  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
is  associated. 


ARTHUR    DOWNER. 


Arthur  Downer,  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Downer,  Gloucester  county. 
Xew  Jersey,  was  born  in  county  Cavan,  Ireland,  on  February  23.  1829,  and 
is  of  ancient  English  ancestry.  The  coat  of  arms  of  the  family  in  JMr. 
Downer's  possession  Ijears  the  motto  '\\  Cruce  Salus."  Family  tradition 
states  that  tw^o  Downer  brothers  were  among  the  royalist  forces  who  suftercd 
such  terrible  defeat  at  the  famous  battle  of  Culloden.  and  when  William, 
Prince  of  Orange,  led  the  Protestants  in  his  conquest  of  King  James'  (2d) 
forces  at  the  historic  battle  of  the  Boyne,  they  were  among  his  victorious 
troops.  Both  brothers  became  residents  of  Ireland,  but  after  some  years 
one  brother,  with  all  of  his  family,  emigrated  to  America,  leaving  the  parental 
ancestors  of  Arthur  Downer  the  sole  representatives  of  the  family  in  the 
Emerald  Isle.  Charles  Downer,  the  grandfather  of  Arthur,  was  long  a  very 
prominent  farmer  of  county  Cavan,  at  one  time  having  an  entire  townland 
under  cultivation.  He  was  a  prominent  Orangeman,  a  loyal  Protestant  and 
intensely  devoted  to  the  throne  of  England.  His  son,  John,  was  an  equally 
strong  loyalist,-  Orangeman  and  Protestant,  and  was  also  a  successful  farmer 
and  an  officer  in  the  county  militia.  He  was  a  quiet  and  unassuming  gen- 
tleman, but  with  great  force  of  character  he  was  strong  in  upholding  the 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  269 

right.  He  died  in  1849.  His  wife.  Margaret  McWade,  was  of  Scottish 
origin,  but  born  in  county  Fermanagh.  She  died  in  1833,  and  her  sole  sur- 
viving son  was  Arthur,  tlie  subject  of  this  writing. 

After  receiving  a  good  education,  and  before  he  was  twenty.  Arthur 
Downer  determined  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World,  .is  after  his  father's 
death  he  had  no  family  ties  to  keep  him  in  Ireland.  His  first  residence  in 
America  was  in  Philadelphia,  and,  after  a  year  passed  in  the  service  of  a 
mercantile  establishment,  in  1850,  he  located  in  Harrisonville,  Gloucester 
county.  New  Jersey,  and  for  five  years  worked  at  farming.  It  was  in  1858 
that  he  purchased  the  nucleus  of  the  present  Downer  estate  at  Downer,  a 
small  tract,  fifty  acres  of  wild  timber  land,  and  went  into  debt  to  secure  it. 
The  locality  at  that  time  gave  little  promise  of  its  flourishing  condition  now, 
but  Mr.  Downer  saw  in  its  unbroken  wastes  the  possibilities  of  a  rich  com- 
munity. His  foresight  has  been  more  than  verified.  He  has  been  most 
successful  in  all  branches  of  his  business  and  has  ever  exercised  a  judgment 
and  forethought  that  has  guarded  him  against  the  shoals  that  have  wrecked 
many  a  craft.  He  moved  to  his  little  homestead  and  began  the  work  of 
clearing  the  land  and  improving  it.  He  was  industrious  and  frugal  in  his 
habits.  He  added  a  few  acres  to  his  original  purchase  from  time  to  time 
as  he  was  able  until  he  and  his  family  are  now  owners  of  over  one  thousand 
acres.  At  once  J\lr.  Downer  set  about  making  general  improvements  that 
would  be  of  benefit  to  the  entire  community.  His  first  effort  was  to  estab- 
lish a  religious  home  for  those  who,  like  himself,  were  desirous  of  fdlloAving 
the  teachings  of  the  Savior.  In  i860  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday-school 
was  organized  in  his  house,  and  many  profitable  meetings  were  held  there 
until  the  society  was  able  to  provide  a  more  suitable  place  of  worship. 

Mr.  Downer  was  married  February  27,  1855,  to  Mary,  a  daughter  of 
John  Rulon  and  the  eighth  in  descent  from  one  Rulon,  a  French  Huguenot, 
who  was  driven  into  exile  from  France  in  the  time  of  the  notable  persecution 
of  that  people,  and  to  her  loving  and  helpful  administrations  is  due  in  a 
large  measure  the  success  which  attended  her  husband.  She  was  a  woman 
of  strong  character,  whose  influence  was  a  power  for  good  wherever  it  was 
felt,  and  Mr.  Downer  was  always  sure  of  her  hearty  support  and  encourage- 
ment. Together  they  worked  for  their  temporal  interests  and  for  the  religious 
cause  so  dear  to  their  hearts,  but  it  was  many  years  before  they  had  the 
extreme  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  erection  of  the  church  which  had  been 
their  desire  for  so  long,  but  in  1886  Mr.  Downer  built  the  beautiful  Downer 
church.  He  was  also  active  in  the  establishment  of  schools,  and  in  1871 
was  successful  in  having  a  district  set  oft"  at  Downer  and  a  school-house 
built. 


2-jo  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

About  this  time  the  Reading  Railroad  Company  talked  of  building  a 
branch  road,  and  the  line  was  run  through  the  property  of  Mr.  Downer  for 
the  Atlantic  City  branch.  The  grading  for  this  was  done  in  1870,  but  not 
until  1884  was  the  road  completed.  Mr.  Downer  was  then  given  charge 
of  the  station  which  bears  his  name,  and  he  was  also  appointed  postmaster, 
a  position  he  has  held  ever  since.  He  soon  opened  a  store,  and  the  little 
village  has  flourished  from  the  start  and  is  a  model  community.  Some  time 
in  1874  he  found  a  fine  quality  of  sand  on  his  estate  that  was  well  adapted 
for  making  glass  and  also  for  use  in  other  foundries.  After  developing  a 
fine  business,  in  September,  1899,  Mr.  Downer  turned  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  farms,  sand  interests  and  other  industries  over  to  his  sons,  John  R.. 
S.  Whitney  and  George  W.,  who.  as  "Downer  Brothers,"  now  carry  on  an 
extensive  business.  They  sell  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  thousand  tons  of  sand 
annually  to  glass  and  other  plants.  As  they  have  a  practically  unlimited 
amount  of  this  sand  at  their  disposal,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  industry  is  a 
leading  one  of  the  section. 

February  22,  1899,  Mr.  Downer  suiifered  a  sad  blow  in  the  death  of  his 
wife.  For  more  than  forty  years  they  had  traveled  together  through  the 
sunshine  and  the  shadows  of  life,  and  when  they  had  neared  the  golden 
milestone  and  the  evening  shadows  were  lengthening  she  received  the  wel- 
come summons  to  a  higher  life.  Her  life  was  filled  with  deeds  that  were 
prompted  by  a  pure,  loving  heart,  and  her  memory  will  long  be  enshrined 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  her  and  felt  the  sunshine  of  her  presence. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  honored  residents  of 
this  vicinity.  They  are:  John  R.,  formerly  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  but  at  present  at  home,  in  the  hope  of  recuperating  his  shat- 
tered health;  William  E.,  who  is  a  merchant;  Lizzie,  the  wife  of  Alfonso 
Thomas;  Samuel  W.,  who  graduated  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  with 
the  degree  of  B.  A.;  and  George.  Three  have  been  laid  to  rest  in  the  village 
churchyard.  On  the  13th  of  March,  1900,  Mr.  Downer  married  for  his 
second  wife  Mrs.  Hannah  C.  Comer,  a  native  of  Bricksboro,  New  Jersey, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Bingham.  After  an  active  and  useful  career  Mr. 
Downer  is  now  passing  the  evening  twilight  of  life  in  a  pleasant  home  in  the 
beautiful  \illase  of  Pitman  Grove,  where  he  is  an  honored  citizen. 


AARON  W.  HAND. 


Classified  amung  the  leading  business  men  of  Cape  May  and  one  who  has 
exerted  a  strong  influence  upon  the  commercial,  social,  moral  and  intellect- 
ual development  of  the  city  is  Aaron  William  Hand.    He  was  born  in  Cam- 


^>7r //^^^ 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  271 

den.  New  Jersey,  February  10,  1857,  and  is  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  this  section  of  the  state.  His  ancestors  came  from  England  in 
the  seventeenth  century  and  located  on  Long  Island.  After  a  few  years  they 
removed  to  Cape  May,  where  members  of  the  family  became  owners  of  a 
large  acreage  in  the  Fishing  creek  neighborhood.  Elisha  Hand,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  held  a  commission  as  an  officer  in  the  Colonial 
army  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  Aaron  Hand,  the  grandfather, 
was  enrolled  in  the  Cape  May  Independent  Regiment,  of  the  war  of  18 12. 
Noah  Hand,  the  father,  was  born  in  Cape  May  county,  and  in  early  life 
went  to  sea  as  first  mate  on  a  sailing  vessel  trading  with  southern  ports.  He 
was  afterward  quartermaster  of  a  steamer  of  the  same  line.  He  resided  in 
Camden,  New  Jersey,  for  twenty  years,  and  in  1873  came  to  Cape  May, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  associated.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane 
A.  Hannah,  died  December  31,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

Aaron  W.  Hand  acquired  his  early  education  in  Camden,  completing  the 
grammar-school  course  there  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  and  then  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  for  two  years.  He  afterward  studied  under  a 
private  tutor  and  also  spent  a  period  in  the  United  States  Military  Academy. 
His  love  of  books  has  prompted  him  to  continue  his  reading,  study  and  inves- 
tigation in  later  years,  and  he  is  continually  adding  to  his  fund  of  knowledge. 
As  is  usual  with  boys,  through  his  younger  years  he  found  keen  enjoyment 
in  the  usual  sports  of  the  time,  and  also  took  the  greatest  delight  in  music. 

When  he  put  aside  his  te.xt  books  to  learn  the  more  difficult  lessons  in 
the  school  of  e.xperience  he  was  employed  for  three  years  in  various  capacities 
in  Philadelphia.  In  1873  he  came  10  Cape  May  with  his  father.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  became  a  teacher  at  Heislerv'ille,  Cumberland  county,  and 
afterward  spent  a  time  in  the  West  Point  Military  Academy.  Subsequently 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching  at  Dennisville  and  at  Rio  Grande,  for  six  years 
at  Cape  May  Point,  Cape  May  county,  and  for  two  years  was  the  principal 
of  the  schools  of  Cape  May  city.  In  1881  he  became  associate  editor  of  the 
Cape  May  Daily  Star,  published  during  the  summer,  and  in  1889  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  Star  of  the  Cape  and  the  Cape  May  Daily  Star  printing  and 
publishing  business,  with  which  he  has  since  been  connected,  being  now  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Star  of  the  Cape  Publishing  Company.  Since  1887  he  has 
also  been  interested  in  general  merchandising  at  West  Cape  May.  His  marked 
energy,  unflagging  perseverance  and  keen  sagacity  have  made  him  a  leading 
and  successful  business  man  of  the  county. 

In  1877  Mr.  Hand  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Letitia  Byers  Reeves, 
a  member  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  pioneer  families  of  Cape  Mav  county. 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

Her  graiulfatlier,  Da\'i(l  Reeves,  was  a  member  of  tlie  militia  duriiii^  the  war 
of  1812  and  was  a  leading  factor  in  all  public  affairs  in  Cape  May  county  for 
forty  years, — the  middle  portion  of  the  nineteenth  century.  During  the  civil 
war  Abijah  D.  Reeves,  Mrs.  Hand's  father,  served  in  Company  F,  Twenty- 
fifth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  as  color  corporal.  David  Hand,  the  great-great- 
grandfather, was  the  ensign  in  Captain  Forest's  company  in  a  brigade  formed 
in  southern  New  Jersey  for  service  in  the  Revolution,  and  Abijah  Reeves' 
great-grandfather  was  also  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  Mrs.  Hand's  mother 
was  Amanda  Deprefontaine,  a  daughter  of  John  Deprefontaine,  who  was  a 
French  Huguenot,  and  Hannah,  nee  Gardner. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hand,  of  this  review,  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
and,  keeping  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  gives  an  intelligent  sup- 
port to  the  principles  of  the  party.  From  1881  to  1886  inclusive  he  served 
as  the  collector  of  taxes  at  Cape  May  Point;  he  has  been  a  commissioner 
of  deeds  since  1881,  notary  public  since  1886  and  the  assessor  of  West  Cape 
May  borough  in  1895-6.  Wiien  elected  collector  of  Cape  May  Point  he 
found  thousands  of  dollars  of  unpaid  Ijack  taxes  and  the  borough  was  almost 
bankrupt.  By  his  unceasing  effort  all  taxes  were  collected  and  the  borough 
placed  on  a  substantial  financial  basis.  As  the  assessor  of  West  Cape  May 
he  readjusted  tax  valuations.  In  1896  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
public  schools  for  Cape  May  county,  to  which  position  he  was  reappointed 
in  1899.  In  this  capacity  he  has  reorganized  the  school  system,  placed  it  on 
a  modern  basis  and  has  greatly  stimulated  the  interest  in  the  schools  through- 
out the  county.  He  has  devoted  himself  to  the  work  of  his  ofifice  with 
untiring  zeal  and  enthusiasm,  and  his  labors  have  been  productive  of  great 
good,  placing  the  schools  of  the  county  on  a  higher  grade  than  they  have 
ever  before  occupied. 

In  his  religious  faith  Mr.  Hand  is  a  Presbyterian,  having  joined  the  Cold 
Spring  Presbyterian  church  in  1875.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  various 
civic  societies.  In  1885  he  joined  Cape  Island  Lodge,  No.  30.  F.  &  A.  ]\I., 
and  was  its  organist  for  several  years.  He  became  a  member  of  Cape  May 
Conclave  No.  183.  I.  O.  H.,  in  1890;  of  Ogalala  Tribe,  No.  157,  I.  O.  R.  M., 
in  1892,  passing  all  the  chairs  and  entering  the  Great  Council  of  New  Jersey 
in  1895,  as  a  representative.  He  was  appointed  great  mishinewa,  and  has 
served  on  the  finance  committee  two  years.  In  1897  he  joined  Cape  May 
Lodge,  No.  21,  A.  O.  U.  W..  and  is  now  master  workman.  He  has  ever 
been  an  active  business  man,  who  has  energetically  carried  forward  to  suc- 
cessful completion  whatever  he  has  undertaken.  In  all  life's  relations  his 
career  has  been  honorable  and  upright,  commending  him  to  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.     He  is  a  man  of 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  27^ 

social  nature,  genial  disposition  and  unfailing  courtesy,  and  his  circle  of 
friends  is  almost  coextensive  with  the  circle  of  his  acquaintances. 


WILLIAM  COOLEY  WILLIAMS,  M.  D. 

In  reviewing  the  lives  of  successful  physicians,  to  which  class  the  subject 
of  this  article  unquestionably  belongs,  it  is  plainly  seen,  by  even  the  most 
casual  observer,  that  unusual  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  are  required,  and 
that  knowledge  alone  never  brings  them  to  their  desired  goal  of  pre-emi- 
nence. Sympathy  and  a  genuine  feeling  of  brotherhood  are  among  the  many 
traits  which  mark  the  ideal  family  physician,  who  must  be,  moreover,  pro- 
gressive, in  the  spirit  of  this  bustling,  active  age,  and  ready  to  incorporate 
into  his  practice  each  new  fact  in  medical  science,  as  it  is  proved  and  tested. 
Dr.  William  C.  Williams  is  an  example  of  the  kind  just  cited,  one  of  the  wide- 
awake, representative  physicians  of  his  county. 

His  ancestors  were  thrifty,  industrious  farmers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
paternal  grandfather,  Benjamin  Williams,  was,  moreover,  the  owner  of  a 
sawmill,  which  he  operated  with  profit.  To  himself  and  wife,  Dorothv.  were 
born  the  following  named  children:  John,  July  28,  1776;  Lydia,  January 
ig,  1788;  Ann,  September  6,  1791;  Rachel,  February  22,  1794;  and  David, 
April  I,  1796.  The  latter,  whose  birth  took  place  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, learned  the  millwrights'  trade  and  for  many  years  plied  that  calling  in 
his  native  state  and  in  Milford,  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey,  being  the 
owner  of  a  flour  and  sawmill  in  the  town  mentioned.  He  located  in  Hurf¥- 
ville,  New  Jersey,  about  1846,  there  following  the  same  line  of  business  until 
a  few  years  had  passed  away,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interests  and  removed 
to  Woodbur)'.  Here  he  lived  retired  until  the  summons  of  death,  March 
31,  1878.  His  faithful  wife,  whose  name  in  girlhood  had  been  Abigail  Cooley, 
survived  him,  her  demise  occurring  December  14,  1894.  She  was  a  child  of 
Philip  and  Margaret  (Barton)  Cooley,  who  were  honored  residents  of  Hun- 
terdon county.  New  Jersey,  where  they  carried  on  a  farm.  The  former,  born 
September  26,  1770,  died  November  30,  1838,  and  the  latter,  born  August 
10,  1769,  died  November  13,  1835.  They  were  married  on  the  7th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1792,  and  became  the  parents  of  the  following-named  children:  Osev, 
born  July  16,  1793:  Jemima,  February  16,  1796;  John,  May  13,  1797: 
Elisha,  March  10.  1799;  James,  May  18,  1800;  Mahlon,  January  28,  1802; 
William,  .\pril  18,  1803;  Philip,  March  23,  1805;  .\bigail,  Alay  20,  1807; 
]\Iary,  February  18,  1809;  and  Samuel,  January  11,  181 1.  Mahlon  died 
April  20,  1825,  and  Mary  January  17,  1872. 

The  children  of  David  and  Abigail  Williams  were:     Jane,  born  Marcli 

I!— R 


274  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

15,  1833,  and  now  widow  of  John  Sill,  of  Ashland,  Ohio;  George  Quinn, 
born  December  5,  1835,  and  died  in  Woodbury.  March  5,  1864:  Mary  Ann, 
born  March  18,  1838,  wife  of  George  K.  Chew,  of  the  vicinity  of  Sewell,  New 
Jersey;  Philip  Cooley,  born  October  19,  1840,  and  accidentally  drowned 
August  6.  1850;  Rachel,  born  June  25,  1843,  and  died  January  i.  1874: 
Benjamin  F..  i)orn  May  16.  1846.  and  died  August  2y,  1856;  Anna  Mar- 
garet, born  July  26.  1848.  and  now  a  stenographer  in  Philadelphia:  and 
^\'illiam  Cooley. 

Dr.  \\'.  C.  Williams  was  born  in  Woodbury.  February  7.  1851.  and 
gained  his  elementary  knowledge  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  Later 
he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  McGeorge.  then  of 
Woodbury,  and  finally  attended  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  in  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  was  graduated  in  1877.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  at 
Frenchtown  and  started  upon  his  professional  career  May  20,  1877.  In  the 
spring  of  1889  he  removed  to  Camden,  where  he  practiced  for  a  period  of 
three  years,  and  since  1892  has  been  a  resident  of  Woodbury.  Here,  as  else- 
where, he  has  met  with  signal  success,  and  at  present  he  is  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  local  board  of  health.  Socially  he  is  held  in  high  regard  by  his 
townsmen,  and  is  a  member  of  Advance  Lodge  No.  9,  Shield  of  Honor,  of 
Woodlniry.  and  Home  Lodge  No.  25,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Frenchtown. 
New  Jersey.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party, 
but  is  not  a  politician,  in  the  commonly  accepted  sense. 

Tlie  marriage  of  the  Doctor  and  Amy  Elizabeth  Lair,  of  Frenchtown. 
was  solemnized  December  22,  1888.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  \\' .  and 
Margaret  (Bird)  Lair,  and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  one 
child,  Howard  L,air.  who  was  born  December  12.  1889.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Baptist  church  and  take  an  active  interest  in  all  things 
which  make  for  the  uplifting  of  mankind  and  society. 


IRA  COLES. 


Ira  Coles,  a  retired  farmer  residing  at  Mullica  Hill,  was  born  near  Woods- 
town,  Salem  county.  February  25,  1831.  His  father,  Bartholomew  Coles, 
was  born  at  Coles"  ]\lill.  Camden  count}',  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Coles, 
a  farmer  and  lumber  manufacturer.  The  family  had  its  origin  in  England 
and  was  early  established  in  the  New  World.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject operated  a  jilaning-mill  and  was  an  enteri^rising  man.  He  married  Ann 
Whisler.  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Whisler.  His  death  occurred  January  28. 
1886.  and  his  wife  passed  away  April  2.  1870.  Bartholomew  Coles  spent  his 
boyhood  days  in  the  county  of  his  nativit\-  and  on  attaining  his  majority 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  275 

came  to  Gloucester  county,  locating  at  Harrisonville,  where  he  conducted 
a  sawmill  and  also  engaged  in  farming.  Success  attended  his  business 
career,  his  well  directed  efforts  bringing  him  a  handsome  competence.  He 
was  born  in  1785  and  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  years. 
He  was  a  very  devout  man,  firm  in  his  convictions  and  true  to  his  principles, 
and  his  upright  life  commanded  the  respect  of  all.  In  his  family  were  ten 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Uz,  a  resident  of  Pittsgrove 
township.  Salem  county:  Chalkly,  of  Woodstown;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Mul- 
lica  Hill;  and  Ira. 

The  last  named  pursued  his  education  in  the  common  schools  through 
the  winter  season  and  in  the  summer  months  aided  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm.  Thus  his  childhood  and  youth  were  passed  and  in  1864  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  Upon  his  father's  death  he  inherited  the 
old  homestead  which  he  successfully  operated  for  some  years,  but  in  1888 
he  put  aside  business  cares  and  is  now  living  retired  enjoying  the  rest  which 
he  has  so  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  His  business  ability  and  perse- 
verance enabled  him  to  so  conduct  his  aft'airs  as  to  win  a  very-  gratifying  com- 
petence, which  now  supplies  him  with  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Mr.  Coles  has  been  twice  married.  He  first  married  Martha  Ann  Adcock, 
who  died  in  1889,  and  on  the  3d  of  January,  1895,  Susan  P.  Horner,  a 
daughter  of  Mark  Horner,  became  his  wife.  They  are  now  living  in  MuUica 
Hill  and  they  have  a  ver\"  pleasant  home,  where  they  enjoy  the  warm  regard 
of  many  friends.  Mr.  Coles  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  township  com- 
mittee and  has  ever  taken  a  commendable  interest  in  those  movements  which 
have  tended  to  promote  the  public  welfare.  His  life  has  been  well  spent 
and  those  who  know  him  entertain  for  him  a  high  regard. 


GEORGE  L.  PARSONS. 


George  Lambert  Parsons  is  the  proprietor  of  the  oldest  store  in  Tuck- 
ahoe,  its  establishment  dating  back  seventy  years.  For  seventeen  years  he 
was  connected  with  the  enterprise  in  a  clerical  capacity  and  in  1895  f'ccame 
the  proprietor.  He  manages  his  business  affairs  with  ability,  is  energetic  and 
progressive,  and  his  earnest  efforts  to  please  his  patrons  have  secured  to  him 
a  large  trade. 

Mr.  Parsons  was  bom  in  Tuckahoe.  on  the  i6th  of  May,  1865,  and  is  a 
son  of  Elmer  and  Ellen  (Somers)  Parsons.  The  name  is  of  English  origin, 
and  on  the  maternal  side  Mr.  Parsons  is  descended  from  the  Somers  fam.ily 
to  which  belonged  the  celebrated  Richard  Somers,  who  distinguished  himself 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE   FIRST 

in  tlie  Ijattle  of  Trijioli  in  tiie  wars  witli  tlie  Barbary  states.  Stephen  Parsons, 
the  paternal  i^randfathcr  of  our  subject,  resided  on  the  Tuckahoe  river,  in 
Atlantic  county,  Xew  Jersey,  and  was  a  farmer  and  extensive  land-owner. 
He  gave  his  political  support  first  to  the  Whig  party  and  afterward  to  the 
RepubHcan  party  and  held  a  number  of  ofifices.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Methodist.  His  children  were  Steplien,  Joseph.  John,  Hannah,  Emeline  and 
Elmer. 

The  last  named,  the  father  of  our  subject,  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Tuckahoe,  New  Jersey,  and  by  trade  was  a  tinsmith.  For  many  years 
he  followed  that  occupation,  supporting  his  family  thereby.  He,  too,  was  a 
Republican  and  exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  that  party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methociist  Episcopal 
church.  He  marrietl  Miss  Ellen  Somers  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Stephen,  a  painter  by  trade,  who  wedded  Sarah  Devaul,  by  whom 
he  had  a  daughter,  Mary;  Sylvester,  who  wedded  Theodosia  Sutton  and  had 
three  children:  William,  Annie  and  Emeline;  Somers,  now  deceased;  John 
Lewis,  Prudence  and  George  Lambert. 

The  last  named  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Tuckahoe 
and  entered  upon  his  business  career  as  a  salesman  in  the  employ  of  Anthony 
Steelman  of  that  town.  After  seventeen  years"  connection  with  the  store 
he  bought  out  his  employer  and  has  since  conducted  the  enterprise  with 
signal  success.  He  is  also  connected  with  the  Building  &  Loan  Association, 
and  in  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  sought  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business.  He  started  out 
upon  his  business  career  empty-handed  and  by  earnest  purpose  and  diligence 
he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence. 

Mr.  Parsons  was  married  on  the  25th  of  November,  1894,  to  Miss  Lida 
M.  Abbott,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  T.  Abbott,  a  prominent  physician  of  Ocean 
City,  New  Jersey.  They  now  have  one  child,  Hettie  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Par- 
sons hold  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Junior  Order  of  L^nited  American  Mechanics. 


EDWARD  L.  RICE. 


On  the  roster  of  the  officials  of  Ca])e  May  county  appears  the  name  of 
Edward  Ludlam  Rice,  who  is  one  of  the  most  jiopular  and  efficient  officers 
that  have  filled  the  position  of  county  clerk.  A  gentleman  of  scholarly  at- 
tainments, of  marked  individuality  and  strong  force  of  character,  he  is  well 
fitted  for  the  place  of  leadership  accorded  him  in  Democratic  circles,  for  his 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  277 

personal  worth  and  recog'nized  ability  secure  to  him  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  public.  The  true  measure  of  individual  success  is  determined  by 
what  one  has  accomplished,  and.  as  taken  in  contradistinction  to  the  old 
adage  that  a  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in  his  own  country,  there  is  a 
particular  interest  attaching  to  the  career  of  the  subject  of  this  rex'iew.  since 
he  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  in  which  he  has  passed  his  entire  life  and  has 
so  directed  his  ability  and  efforts  as  to  gain  recognition  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  Cape  May  county. 

His  birth  occurred  in  Dennisville.  January  2^.  1864.  his  parents  being 
Learning  M.  and  Maria  (Ludlam)  Rice.  The  Rice  family  is  of  English  origin 
and  at  an  early  day  the  progenitors  of  the  family  in  America  took  up  their 
abode  in  New  England.  For  some  time  the  Rices  resided  in  Boston,  whence 
Edward  Rice,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  removed  to  Philadelphia. 
He  was  the  captain  of  a  merchant  vessel  sailing  between  Philadelphia  and 
European  ports  and  engaged  in  the  East  India  trade.  He  died  and  was 
buried  at  sea  while  making  the  return  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  his  home. 
He  married  Hannah  Leaming,  and  our  subject  now  has  in  his  possession  two 
fine  paintings  of  them,  the  work  having  been  executed  in  1791.  Hannah 
Leaming  was  a  daughter  of  Christopher  Leaming  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Aaron  Leaming.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  she  married  Aaron  C. 
Moore.  Edward  Rice,  Jr..  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  camie  to  Cape  May  county,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
His  last  days,  however,  were  spent  in  his  native  city.  He  held  local  offices 
and  was  a  gentleman  of  considerable  prominence.  His  last  days  were  spent 
in  the  city  of  his  birth,  where  he  died  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  His 
wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eightv  years.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Jane  Diverty.  and  was  a  daughter  of  a  Scotchman.  ■  Unto  Edward  and  Jane 
Rice  were  born  the  following  named:  James  D.,  who  married  Rebecca  John- 
son, became  a  miner  in  California  at  the  time  of  the  gold  excitement  and 
served  his  countrv  during  the  civil  war:  and  Leaming  ]\L,  the  father  of  our 
subject. 

William  Diverty,  the  great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Aberdeen,  Scotland.  March  15,  1754,  and  was  married  February  11,  1780,  to 
Jane  Smith,  whose  birth  occurred  March  28,  1757.  He  was  connected  with 
the  Bruces,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  families  of  Scotland  that 
furnished  to  that  land  one  of  its  most  distinguished  heroes.  William  Diverty 
died  in  181 1,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1832.  James  Diverty.  their  son,  was 
born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland.  November  25.  1783.  and  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  came  to  the  United  States  to  complete  his  education.  He  afterward 
learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and  when  on  a  trip  to  Cape  May  county,  where  he 


278  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

intended  to  purcliase  hoop-poles,  he  met  Miss  Del^orah  Hand,  whom  he 
afterward  married.  She  was  born  in  1787  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Sarah  (Learning)  Hand,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Aaron  Learn- 
ing. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Diverty  located  in  South  Dennis,  where  he 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  ship-building,  and  also  dealt  in  cord-wood. 
He  died  May  11,  1858,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1830.    They  became  the  parents  of  James,  Jesse,  Jane,  Mary  and  William. 

Learning  M.  Rice,  of  Dennisville,  attended  the  old  South  Jersey 
Academy,  at  Bridgeton,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  went  to  the  west  on 
government  business.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  surveying  and  in 
later  years  has  devoted  his  time  more  exclusively  to  the  real-estate  business. 
He  is  well  informed  concerning  realty  values  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and 
has  handled  much  property.  He  has  been  the  secretary  of  the  Dennisville 
Building  &  Loan  Association  since  its  organization  and  for  twenty  or  thirty 
years  he  held  the  ofifice  of  freeholder.  In  1867  he  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate,  the  first  Democrat  ever  sent  by  Cape  May  county  to  the  upper  house 
of  the  legislature.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  success  and 
welfare  of  his  party  and  is  a  recognized  leader  of  Democracy  in  his  township. 
At  one  time  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  but  is  not  now  con- 
nected with  that  organization.  He  still  resides  in  Dennisville,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years, — a  respected  and  honored  citizen.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1882.  Tliey  were  the  parents  of  six  children:  James  Diverty,  the 
eldest,  is  now  deceased;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Uriah  Gandy,  the  proprietor  of 
the  Gatzmer  House,  at  Dennisville;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Louis  B.  Lloyd, 
a  painter  at  Dennisville;  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Vincent  O.  Miller,  of  South  Den- 
nis, who  for  fifteen  years  served  as  the  county  superintendent  of  schools,  and 
in  1898  was  a  candidate  for  the  legislature;  Edward  is  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth;  and  Leaming  completes  the  family. 

Edward  L.  Rice  acquired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Dennisville  and  then  entered  Rutgers  College,  where  he  pursued  his 
studies  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Gloucester  county  and  then  became  a  teacher  in  South  Dennis,  Cape  May 
county.  For  three  years  he  was  the  principal  of  the  schools  in  Tuckahoe 
and  was  then  elected  principal  of  the  Cape  May  schools,  but  in  the  fall  of  1889 
he  resigned  the  latter  position  to  accept  the  office  of  county  clerk,  to  which 
he  was  elected,  defeating  Jonathan  Hand,  who  had  filled  that  position  for 
a  half  century.  He  was  not  then  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  was  the  young- 
est countv  clerk  in  the  state.  In  his  own  township  he  received  over  three 
hundred  votes  out  of  four  hundred  cast.  After  entering  the  ofifice  he  dis- 
charged his  duties  so  ably  and  promptly  that  in  1894  he  was  re-elected,  by 


COXGRESSrOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEIV   JERSEY.  279 

a  majority  of  one  hundred.  All  of  the  Republican  county  representatives 
were  elected  by  a  majority  of  from  seven  to  eight  hundred,  and  Mr.  Rice  was 
the  only  Dem.ocrat  elected  in  the  state  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three 
assemblymen  in  Hudson  county.  This  fact  certainly  indicates  his  personal 
popularity  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the  people  of  his  native 
county.  Mr.  Rice  has  studied  closely  the  political  situation  of  the  country 
and  the  questions  which  are  now  before  the  people,  and  is  an  ardent  advocate 
of  Democratic  principles.  He  has  done  some  campaign  work  and  is  a  very 
pleasing  and  effective  speaker. 

Socially  ]\Ir.  Rice  is  connected  with  the  Tuckahoe  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F..  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  in  Dennisville.  and  is  a  director  in  the  State  Mutual 
Building  &  Loan  Association.  He  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss  Phoebe,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  J.  Steelman,  her  father  a  merchant  of  Tucka- 
hoe. They  now  have  three  interesting  children, — Dorothy,  Edward  and 
Martha.  They  have  a  beautiful  residence  in  Cape  May  Court  House,  which 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Rice.  It  is  built  in  a  modern  style  of  architecture,  hand- 
somely finished  in  hard  wood,  and  its  beautiful  furnishings  indicate  the 
refined  tastes  of  the  inmates.  Mr.  Rice  is  endowed  by  nature  with  strong 
mental  power,  but  this  counts  for  naught  without  the  individual  efrorts  w  hich 
cultivate  it  and  applies  it  to  the  practical  affairs  of  life.  His  marked  energy 
and  laudable  ambition,  however,  have  enabled  him  to  work  his  way  steadily 
upward,  and  to-day  he  occupies  an  honored  position  in  political  and  social 
circles. 


GEORGE  M.  HALL. 


George  'SI.  Hall  is  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  farmer  of  Woolwich 
township,  Gloucester  county.  He  was  born  near  Paulsboro,  Xew  Jersey,  on 
the  17th  of  August,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Sarah  (Middleton)  Hall. 
His  mother  died  and  his  father  afterward  married  a  Miss  Hiles,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  Abigail  (Miller)  Derrickson,  widow  of  John  Derrickson. 
The  children  of  the  first  union  were  Edward,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  near  Paulsboro;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hiles,  of  Morristown, 
Xew  Jersey,  by  whom  she  has  several  children;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Miller  Thompson,  a  farmer  residing  near  ilullica  Hill;  and  George  SI. 

The  last  named  is  indebted  to  the  public-school  system  for  his  educational 
privileges.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  Greenwich  and  Woolwich  townships 
and  on  putting  aside  his  text-books  took  up  the  work  of  farming,  which  he 
followed  with  great  success  throughout  his  business  career.  In  1885  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  which  he  has  since  greatly  improved,  making  it  one 


28o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

of  the  most  desiralilc  and  attractive  country  homes  in  this  section  of  the 
county. 

In  February,  1882,  Mr.  Hall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Laura 
Sithens.  daughter  of  Daniel  Sithens.  of  Woolwich  township.  Gloucester 
county.  They  have  two  children.  Gertie  and  Walter,  ^h.  Hall  and  his 
family  attcnil  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Swedesboro,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  the  Ancient. 
Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  He  prosecutes 
his  labors  with  energy  and  is  most  honorable  in  all  his  dealings.  These  quali- 
ties have  brought  to  him  signal  success,  and  he  is  thereby  classed  among  the 
substantial  farmers  of  his  township. 


DANIEL  F.  HENDRICKSON. 

Daniel  F.  Hendrickson,  ex-mayor  of  Woodbury,  is  one  of  her  most  en- 
terprising and  public-spirited  citizens.  Born  at  the  close  of  the  civil  war, 
he  is  now  in  the  jirime  and  vigor  of  manhood;  is  thoroughly  in  sympathy 
with  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  age.  and  is  deeply  conscientious  in  dis- 
charging his  duties  toward  his  fellow-men. 

His  father,  Henry  J.  Hendrickson,  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  Gloucester 
county.  New  Jersey,  April  15,  1829.  In  his  early  life  he  was  engaged  in 
the  dry-goods  trade  in  Philadelphia,  and  later  he  carried  on  a  flourishing 
express  business  between  that  city  and  Woodbun,-.  Disposing  of  this  in 
1886  to  his  son  Jacob,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  what 
is  known  as  Hendrickson's  Gilt  Edge  Liniment,  an  article  of  acknowledged 
merit.  In  March,  188S,  he  was  elected  to  the  Gloucester  board  of  free- 
holders and  served  in  that  ofifice  for  a  period  of  three  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  a  member  of  several  very  important  committees.  He  had  been 
honored  with  re-election  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  December  24,  1897,  he 
was  ser\'ing  his  third  term.  Both  as  a  public  man  and  as  a  private  citizen 
he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  and  his  death  has  been  sincerely  mourned 
by  his  large  circle  of  friends.  In  his  political  creed  he'  was  a  Republican. 
For  forty  years  he  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church,  his  life  fully  exemplify- 
ing the  noble  Christian  precepts  which  he  ]^rofessed.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  Clare,  survives  him,  her  home  l)eing  in  Wood- 
bury, as  for  years  past. 

To  their  union  seven  children  were  born,  namely:  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Samuel  C.  Brick,  of  Philadelphia:  Henry  J..  Jr..  who  married  Lillian  Paris, 
since  deceased,  and  resides  in  Woodbury:  Ella  A.,  the  wife  of  L.  C.  Fowler,  a 
Philadelphia  photographer;  Joseph  Clare,  who  wedded  Louisa  Flenard  and 


CO^'GRESSIO^\-iL   DrSTRICT   OF   NEIV   JERSEY.  281 

is  a  resident  of  Camden.  New  Jersey;  Daniel  F.;  and  Andrew  and  Jacob, 
twins.  Andrew  chose  Ida  Megary  for  a  wife  and  Jacob  married  IMinnie 
P.  Locke. 

Daniel  F.  Hendrickson  was  born  April  15,  1863,  in  Woodbnry,  and 
received  his  edncation  in  the  excellent  schools  of  this  place.  When  a  mere 
youth  he  engaged  in  the  express  business,  in  partnership  with  his  father, 
and  subsequently  went  to  the  Quaker  city,  where  he  found  employment  in 
the  wholesale  grocery  establishment  of  Githens  &  Rexsamer,  on  Front  street. 
At  the  end  of  two  years  he  became  an  employee  of  the  Adams  Express 
Company,  of  the  same  city,  remaining  with  them  for  about  two  years. 
Returning  then  to  this,  his  native  town,  he  bought  out  the  business  stand 
of  ex-Sherifif  Daniel  I.  Packer,  late  United  States  senator,  and  has  since 
continued  in  this  line  of  enterprise.  He  has  met  with  the  prosperity  which 
he  richly  deserves,  and  by  strict  attention  to  the  needs  and  wishes  of  the 
public  has  won  the  favorable  opinion  of  all  with  whom  he  has  dealings.  He 
not  only  deals  in  flour,  feed,  seeds,  salt,  fertilizers,  cement,  coal  and  wood, 
but  also  runs  a  steam  gristmill,  keeps  a  full  line  of  farm  machinery  and  a 
good  stock  of  paints  and  oils.  He  also  is  interested  in  real  estate  at  Bel- 
mont, adjoining  the  national  park  on  the  Delaware  river,  and  has  other 
financial  investments,  which  he  manages  with  marked  ability. 

Honored  l^y  election  to  the  mayoralty  of  Woodbury,  Mr.  Hendrickson 
proved  to  be  a  very  efficient  officer,  but,  thougli  a  third  term  was  tendered 
to  him,  he  saw  fit  to  decline  additional  service.  He  also  was  a  member  of 
the  city  council  at  one  time,  and  in  various  ways  has  earnestly  sought  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  his  native  place.  He  uses  his  franchise  on  behalf 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally  is  identified  with  the  Heptasophs, 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  the  Red  Cross  Society.  Religiously 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

The  marriage  of  Daniel  F.  Hendrickson  and  Miss  Emma  R.  Megary 
was  celebrated  in  Philadelphia.  March  25.  1885.  Mrs.  Hendrickson  is  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Julia  Megary,  of  that  city.  Our  subject  and  wife 
have  a  very  pleasant  home,  which  is  brightened  by  the  presence  of  three 
children:  Marion,  born  March  10.  1886:  Daniel  J.  P..  born  October  8,  1889; 
and  Robert  C,  October  9.  1898. 


A.  A.  SMITH.  :\I.  D. 

For  sixty-five  years  the  famil}'  of  which  Dr.  A.  A.  Smith  is  a  worthy 
representative  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  growth  and  progress  of 
the  town  of  Malaga.  Gloucester  county.    His  great-grandfather,  John  Smith, 


282  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

a  native  of  Lancashire,  England,  was  of  a  wealthy  family,  and  was  in  the 
direct  line  of  descent  from  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  noted  in  the  history  of  that 
country.  In  1742  John  Smith  emigrated  to  America,  as  he  had  come  into 
the  possession  of  a  valuable  grant  of  land,  a  gift  of  the  crown,  and  desired  to 
look  after  his  new  estate.  This  property,  situated  near  May's  Landing,  in 
what  was  known  as  Scotland  Neck,  and  some  located  in  Camden  county, 
produced  large  revenues  for  the  owners  anil  their  posterity,  and  thus,  when 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  was  in  progress,  they  were  enabled  to  be  of  inval- 
uable service  to  the  colonists,  fitting  out  privateersmen  at  their  own  expense 
and  aiding  the  army  of  patriots  in  many  ways.  Indeed,  they  took  so  very 
active  a  part  that  they  became  a  special  mark  for  the  hate  of  the  Tories,  who 
burned  and  destroyed  their  property  on  more  than  one  occasion.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  New  Jersey  estates  mentioned,  the  Smiths  owned  a  large  portion 
of  Staten  Island  at  one  time. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  the  Doctor  was  the  Rev.  Asa  Smith,  a  native 
of  May's  Landing,  and  one  of  the  early  preachers  in  the  local  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  son,  Br.  Charles  W.  Smith,  the  father  of  A.  A. 
Smith,  was  born  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  was  graduated  in  the  medical 
department  of  JefYerson  College,  where  Dr.  J.  P.  McClellan,  father  of  General 
George  B.  McClellan,  was  his  preceptor.  Coming  to  lAIalaga  in  1834,  he 
was  actively  engaged  in  practice  until  shortly  before  his  death  in  1872.  He 
was  a  very  successful  physician  and  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  many  noted 
persons  far  and  near.  Dr.  Smith  was  an  ardent  Democrat  in  his  political 
sympathies. 

In  his  early  manhood.  Dr.  C.  W.  Smith  and  Sarah  Clark,  the'  daughter 
of  Isaac  Clark,  of  Salem  county,  were  joined  in  wedlock.  The  devoted  wife 
and  mother,  now  in  her  eighty-eighth  year,  is  yet  active  in  mind  and  body, 
and  is  beloved  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance.  Of  her  nine 
children,  Melissa  is  the  wife  of  George  Ackley,  of  Malaga;  Matilda  is  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Gleisner,  of  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania;  Isaac  resides  in 
Malaga;  Charles  is  living  at  May's  Landing;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Professor 
E.  D.  Riley,  of  May's  Landing;  Texana  and  Addie  are  at  home;  and 
Thomas  Jefferson  is  at  Newcastle,  Pennsylvania. 

The  birth  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Smith  took  place  March  20,  1838,  in  Malaga,  and 
after  he  had  completed  his  common-school  education  he  concluded  to  devote 
his  life  to  medical  work,  as  had  his  father  before  him.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  found  that  his  medical  knowledge  and  patriotic  devotion  could  be  of 
service  to  his  country,  and  he  accordingly  accepted  a  position  as  an  active 
assistant  surgeon  at  the  Sattelee  (United  States  General  Hospital  at  West 
Philadelphia,  where  he  rendered  invaluable  aid  to  the  .sick  and  wounded  sol- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  283 

diers.  Resuming  his  interrupted  studies,  he  was  graduated  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1864,  and  soon  afterward  re- 
ceived a  commission  as  acting  assistant  surgeon  in  the  regular  army.  When 
he  was  no  longer  needed,  he  returned  home  and  engaged  in  practice.  He  has 
been  very  successful  in  general  family  practice  and  has  made  a  specialty  of 
obstetrics  and  surgery,  in  both  of  which  branches  he  is  considered  an  au- 
thority. In  1897,  feeling  the  need  of  rest  from  the  arduous  labors  of  more 
than  three  decades,  he  retired  from  active  practice.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  and  reaps  a  good  income  from  its  products,  not 
the  least  important  of  which  is  a  large  cranberry  crop  each  year. 

The  wife  of  the  Doctor's  youth,  formerly  Mary  P.  Howland,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, died  in  1885,  and  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Maggie 
Sloan,  and  who  was  from  Pennsylvania,  departed  this  life  in  1896,  leaving  one 
son,  Asa.  The  Doctor  later  married  Mary  Keen,  a  daughter  of  William 
Keen,  of  Camden,  New  Jersey.  Pie  is  a  stalwart  believer  in  the  platform  of 
the  Democratic  part\ ,  but  has  never  been  prevailed  upon  to  accept  public 
office. 


THE  WILLIAMSTOWN  BODINES. 

One  of  the  saddest  pages  in  French  history  is  the  persecution  of  the 
Protestant  Huguenots.  Brainy  and  brilliant,  they  were  lovers  of  education 
and  religious  freedom,  and  constituted  one  of  the  finest  elements  of  the  civil- 
ization of  France.  After  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew,  many  Huguenots 
expatriated  themselves  to  England  and  from  there  to  America,  where  their 
descendants  hold  high  positions.  Among  this  number  was  Jean  Bodin,  born 
in  1645  at  the  village  of  Medio  on  the  Gironde  river,  in  the  province  of 
Saintonge,  lying  on  the  bay  of  Biscay.  He  was  naturalized  in  London  in 
1681  and  with  his  wife,  Esther  Bridon,  came  to  America,  locating  first  near 
New  Rochelle,  Westchester  county,  New  York,  but  in  1682  they  were  resi- 
dents of  Staten  Island.  That  the  family  had  long  been  distinguished  in 
France  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  Jean  Bodin  was  called  the  ablest  political 
thinker  and  philosophic  reasoner  in  that  countr}-.  About  1695  Jean  Bodin. 
the  emigrant,  died  on  Staten  Island,  leaving  the  following  children:  Jean 
(John),  Mariana,  Eleazer,  Francis,  Esther  and  Mary.  His  descendants  later 
crossed  to  Perth  Amboy,  and  some  of  them  made  their  way  by  the  road  up 
the  Raritan  from  its  mouth  to  its  source.  The  posterity  of  this  Jean  Bodin 
are  scattered  far  and  wide  in  the  L'nited  States  and  are  people  of  character 
and  substance.  They  have  borne  their  part  well  in  peace  and  war  as  law- 
abiding  citizens  and  patriots,  and  are  eligible  to  membership  in  the  American 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

societies  of  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  For  the  purpose  of  this 
sketch  we  touch  only  the  line  of  the  Williamstown  Bodines. 

Francis  Bodine,  a  son  of  Jean  Bodin,  born  about  1690,  married  Maria 
Dey.  Of  all  their  children  none  but  Francis  is  clearly  traced,  and  nothing 
further  is  known  of  tb.eir  li\es.  This  son.  Francis,  lived  in  Cranberry,  New 
Jersey,  in  1745.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  Bodins  of  Pliiladelphia  and 
southern  New  Jersey,  and  the  great-grandfather  of  John  F.,  William  H.  and 
J.  Alfred  Bodine,  of  Williamstown.  This  Francis  had  three  sons, — Joel,  Vin- 
cent and  John.  John  Bodine.  fourth  generation  from  the  emigrant,  the 
youngest  of  the  family  of  Francis,  as  above  stated,  born  at  Cranberry  in 
1745,  in  early  youth  made  his  home  at  W^ading  River,  Burlington  county, 
near  the  present  Harrisville,  and  kept  a  tavern  there  for  many  years.  He 
served  seven  years  in  the  Continental  army  of  the  Revolution,  advancing 
from  private  to  captain.  He  was  twice  married,  the  first  wife  being  a  Round- 
tree.  Their  children,  Charles,  Francis,  Stacy,  John  and  Susan,  all  attained 
advanced  ages.  His  second  wife.  Ann  Taylor,  whom  he  married  in  1790,  had 
the  following  children:  Joel,  Budd,  Wilson,  Jesse,  Daniel,  Sarah,  Aliigail, 
Lucy  Ann,  Mary  and  Samuel  Tucker.  Mrs.  Bodine  died  at  an  old  age.  sur- 
viving her  husband. 

Joel  Bodine,  born  in  1794,  at  Wading  Riven  commenced  housekeeping 
at  Bridgeport  as  a  New  Jersey  tavern-keeper  on  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Gale, 
of  Bridgeport.  She  bore  him  one  son,  Samuel,  and  soon  died.  I\Ir.  Bodine 
later  moved  to  Tuckerton,  where  he  married  his  second  wife,  and  in  a  few- 
years  moved  to  Philadelphia  and  entered  the  employ  of  Dr.  Burgin.  a  dealer 
m  oils.  Dr.  Burgin  later  acquired  an  interest  in  the  glass-works  at  Millville, 
New  Jersey,  and  Joel  Bodine  moved  thither  to  superintend  the  mercantile 
department  and  afterward  had  an  interest  in  the  plant  for  a  time.  He  then 
became  a  stage-driver  on  the  line  between  Philadelphia  and  Cape  May,  and 
made  his  home  at  Port  Elizabeth  for  some  years.  Returning  to  Alillville, 
he  traveled  through  the  south  and  west,  successfully  dealing  in  patent  rights. 
Then,  with  another,  he  established  a  blacksmith  shop  and  manufactory  of 
steelyards  at  Millville.  In  1835  he  moved  to  Winslow  to  be  a  clerk  for 
William  Cot¥in,  Jr..  in  the  glass-works  store.  Two  years  later  he  passed  one 
year  at  Malaga  as  assistant  manager  of  the  glass-works.  In  June,  1839,  he 
removed  to  Williamstown  and  purchased  a  part  of  the  glass-works,  and  for 
two  years,  first  with  Gabriel  Iszard  and  then  with  Mr.  Black,  ran  these  works. 
Then,  l)v  the  failure  of  their  agent,  he  became  financially  embarrassed.  His 
old  employer,  ^V'illiam  Cofiiin,  came  to  his  aitl  and  the  firm  of  Cof^n  & 
Bodin  conducted  a  factory  two  \ears,  after  which  Mr.  Bodine  became  sole 
owner,  and  later  extended  the  business,  built  another  factory  and  employed 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEJJ'  lERSEV.  285 

a  large  corps  of  workmen.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Camden  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1855,  solfl  '^'''6  plant  to  his  sons.  He  was  a  thorough  business  man,  giv- 
ing all  of  his  time  and  energy  to  his  Inisiness,  and  was  generally  successful. 
His  second  wife  was  Phel:ie  A.  Forman,  a  daughter  of  John  Forman,  of  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  who  had  become  a  resident  of  Tuckerton.  They 
were  married  in  1821  and  had  seven  children,  all  sons:  John  F.;  William 
H.;  Isaac;  Joel  A.:  and  Charles  S.,  living,  and  Charles  F'.  and  Henry  are 
deceased.  Their  mother  died  in  1854  and  Mr.  Bodine  married  for  his  third 
wife  Leah  Alathis,  who  died  May  5.  1879,  and  her  husband  lived  only  till 
M'ay  22,  1879.  Originally  a  Jacksonian  Democrat.  Mr.  Bodine  was  later  a 
Whig  and  a  Reiniblican  and  held  the  commission  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he 
was  a  trustee.  He  was  a  tall,  muscular  man  of  dark  complexion  and  had 
many  friends.  He  will  be  remembered  as  one  who  put  the  Williamstown 
glass  industry  on  a  high  standing. 

John  Forman  Bodine.  a  son  of  Joel  and  Phebe  A.  (Forman)  Bodine,  was 
born  at  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey,  in  1821,  and  died  in  1883.  He  had  but  a 
common-school  education,  but  was  of  a  studious  mind,  and  by  well  selected 
reading  became  well  educated.  He  was  a  surveyor  and  a  member  of  the 
Surveyors'  Association  and  a  contributor  to  its  productions.  He  learned 
window-glass  blowing  at  Millville  before  he  came  to  the  W^illiamstown  fac- 
tory in  1840.  Fie  w'as  a  natural  financier,  a  man  of  mental  ability,  and  as  a 
Republican  was  elected  to  the  assembly  from  Camden  county  in  1864,  and 
was  a  state  senator  from  Gloucester  county  in  1874.  Later  he  was  the 
county  judge  for  fi\e  years.  A  man  of  fine  appearance,  pleasant,  genial  and 
affable,  he  won  and  retained  friends.  He  was  a  valued  member  of  the  Free- 
masons and  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  also  long  a  member  of  the  ]\Ietlio- 
dist  Episcopal  church.  By  his  first  marriage,  to  Martha  Swope.  two  children 
were  born:  Emma  A.,  who  became  j\Irs.  H.  Atkins:  and  Phebe  A.,  who 
became  Mrs.  Dr.  Charles  L.  Dufifall.  His  second  wife  was  Gertrude  Boucher, 
of  Claverack,  New  York.  Their  children  now  living  are  Joanna  B..  who 
became  Mrs.  Samuel  Garwood,  and  Alice  L..  who  married  Dr.  L.  M.  Halsey. 
both  residents  of  Williamstown. 

William  H.  Bodine,  the  sole  surviving  child  of  Joel  Bodine.  was  born 
January  9.  1824.  at  Tuckerton.  New  Jersey.  He  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  at  Pennington  Seminary,  the  latter  after  he  had  learned 
the  trade  of  hollow-ware  and  glass-blowing.  After  one  year  at  the  seminary, 
he  resumed  glass-blowing  and  w'orked  at  it  until  1846.  making  seven  years 
that  he  passed  at  this  labor.  In  1846  he  went  to  Bridgeton  and  managed  the 
affairs  of  the  g'ass  factorv  there  for  nine  vears.  then  returned  to  Williams- 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

town  and  with  his  brothers.  John  F.  and  J.  Alfred,  formed  the  firm  of  Bodine 
iJrothers,  and  purchased  the  glass  factory  there.  They  were  all  practical 
men, — workers,  not  drones.  John  F.  was  placed  in  the  department  of  sales. 
buying  and  finance,  William  H.  was  given  the  management  of  the  work  of 
the  shops,  and  J.  Alfred  took  the  outside  business  and  management  of  farms. 
Diligent,  temperate  and  industrious,  they  were  prospered  and  the  firm  con- 
tinued in  successful  operation  for  many  years.  In  1866  J.  Alfred  sold  his 
interests  to  his  brother  John,  who  sold  a  large  part  of  his  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness to  Charles  and  Walter  Thomas,  and  the  firm  became  Bodine,  Thomas 
&  Company.  In  1868  W.  H.  Bodine  sold  his  interest  to  Isaac  Sharpless,  of 
Philadelphia.  Sharpless  later  sold  his  interest  to  Colonel  Wrotnosski.  a 
brother-in-law  of  the  Thomases,  and  after  this  the  present  corporation,  "The 
Bodine  Glass  Works,"  was  incorporated.  Since  his  retirement  from  this  busi- 
ness Mr.  Bodine  has  merely  attended  to  his  personal  affairs,  which  are  ex- 
tensive enough  to  keep  him  from  feeling  that  he  is  an  idle  man. 

A  member  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organization,  he  has  been 
active  in  its  interests,  but  avoided  public  life  and  office.  He  has,  however, 
been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years.  He  has  a  broad  acquaintance  in 
the  religious  circles  of  New  Jersey.  He  has  belonged  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  since  1850  and  always  been  active  in  its  work  and  bene- 
factions. He  had  the  honor  of  being  a  Sunday-school  superintendent  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  for  many  years  he  was  a  vice  president  of  the  State 
Sunday-school  Association,  often  its  presiding  ofificer.  He  was  long  the 
vice  president  for  New  Jersey  in  the  International  Sunday-school  Union, 
and  is  the  present  president  of  the  Gloucester  County  Sunday-school  Asso- 
ciation. He  was  one  of  the  old-time  Sons  of  Temperance,  and  has  been  an 
Odd  Fellow  since  1848.  passing  the  chairs  in  his  local  lodge.  In  1852  he  was 
made  a  Mason  in  Brearley  Lodge.  No.  2,  of  Bridgeton.  and  has  been  the 
worshipful  master  of  the  Williamstown  lodge. 

In  March,  1846,  Mr.  Bodine  married  Eliza  E..  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Ellen  (Thompson)  Corkery.  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  died  in 
July,  1856,  and  their  children  were  Joel  Francis;  Mary  Ellen,  who  married 
Dr.  McCombs.  of  Philadelphia;  William  C.  who  died  in  childhood;  Henry 
v..  and  Phebe  E..  deceased.  In  January,  1857.  Mr.  Bodine  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  Virginia  Slacum.  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Kinoin)  Slacum,  formerly  of  Eastern  Shore.  Maryland.  Their  children  are 
William  A.;  Clara,  deceased;  Carrie  AI..  deceased;  S.  Ida;  Charles  H.  N.; 
and  Cornelia  W.  and  Aimie  H..  twins.  ]\Ir.  Bodine  inherited  the  physical 
characteristics  of  the  Bodins, — a  large  and  massive  frame,  great  vitality,  a 
broad  and  philosophic  grasp  of  afi^airs.  and  is  passing  his  closing  years  of 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  287 

life  with  a  serene  content  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  pleasing  offices  of  his 
numerous  posterity  and  large  circle  of  friends. 

J.  Alfred  Bodine,  born  in  183 1  at  Port  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  in  addition 
to  a  common-school  education  finished  the  course  of  Pennington  Seminary, 
then,  as  he  was  active  and  loved  an  outdoor  life,  he  came  to  Williamstown 
and  followed  farming  and  its  kindred  employments  until  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Bodine  Brothers,  as  previously  told.  He  was  an  energetic 
man  of  great  practical  acquaintance  with  the  affairs  he  conducted,  and,  w^hile 
he  was  a  strong  Republican,  he  left  to  others  the  filling  of  official  stations, 
contenting  himself  with  those  of  tax  collector  and  freeholder.  He,  like  his 
brothers,  was  one  of  the  early  Sons  of  Temperance  and  the  principles  of 
that  society  actuated  him  through  life.  He  was  a  consistent  member  and 
trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  many  years  and  prominent  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  passed  through  the  chairs  of  the 
local  lodge.  He  married  Phebe  J.  French,  a  daughter  of  Francis  French,  of 
Bass  River,  New  Jersey.  Their  children  now  living  are  Ernest  C;  Louis 
F..  of  Camden,  New  Jersey:  Annabel:  Jennie:  Fannie,  now  Mrs.  George 
Johnson,  of  Camden:  and  Vincent,  of  Camden.  In  1879  Mr.  Bodine  moved 
to  Camden,  where,  after  an  active  and  a  successful  life,  he  ended  his  days  on 
January  23.  1899. 

Ernest  C.  Bodine,  the  eldest  child  of  J.  Alfred  and  Phebe  J.  (French) 
Bodine,  was  born  in  Williamstown,  New  Jersey,  on  January  3,  1858.  He  had 
an  excellent  common-school  education,  is  a  graduate  of  the  C.  C.  Institute, 
Hackettstown,  New  Jersey,  served  in  the  United  States  Marine  Corps  for 
a  time  and  then  engaged  in  farming.  He  became  connected  with  the  Bodine 
Glass  Works  in  December,  1898.  and  since  February,  1899,  has  been  the 
treasurer  of  the  corporation.  Republican  in  his  political  faith,  he  was  a 
tax  collector  for  ten  years  and  served  as  the  treasurer  of  the  Building  & 
Loan  Association  for  nine  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men  and  of  the  Jr.  O.  U.  A.  M..  and  is  the  present  recorder  of  the 
Williamstown  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.  On  the  25th  of  December,  1882,  Mr. 
Bodine  married  Miss  Anna  E.  Bugbee,  a  daughter  of  H.  K.  Bugbee,  of 
William.stown,  New  Jersey.  Their  children  are:  J.Alfred:  H.Keith:  Ced- 
ric  A.:   Phoebe:   E.  Kent:   Margaret  H.:   John  F.;   and  Francis  F. 


FRANKLIN  E.  BRENXEIS. 

Of  the  farming  interests  of  Logan  township,  Gloucester  county,  this 
gentleman  is  a  representative,  and  the  place  upon  which  he  now  resides  was 
also  the  place  of  his  birth.    The  date  of  that  event  was  August  2^.  1866.    His 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

])arents,  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Hovermale)  Brenneis,  were  natives  of 
W'achenheim,  Rlieinfels,  Germany.  In  1850  ihe  father  came  to  America  and 
soon  afterward  located  in  Logan  township,  where  he  owned  two  farms. 
These  he  cultivated  for  a  number  of  years,  but  at  length  retired  to  private 
life,  tp.king  up  his  residence  in  Swcdesboro  in  1892.  He  was  married  in  1852, 
and  on  the  Tst  of  February,  1897,  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
wife.  In  their  family  were  se\'en  children:  Alary,  the  wife  of  Andrew  C. 
Rode:  Henry,  who  is  operating  one  of  his  father's  farms:  Anne,  wife  of  John 
Macon,  of  Bridgeport;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Edward  Verrick,  of  Swedesboro; 
Lizzie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Phillip  Whitte,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years:   Louisa,  the  wife  of  Louis  Fulger,  of  Bridgeport:  and  Franklin. 

Air.  Brenneis,  of  this  review,  is  indebted  to  the  public-school  system  of 
his  native  town  for  the  educational  privileges  that  fitted  him  for  the  respon- 
sible duties  of  life.  He  has  followed  farming  throughout  his  business  career, 
and  in  February,  1899,  purchased  his  present  home,  comprising  forty-eight 
acres  of  rich  land.  Its  cultivation  results  in  bringing  to  him  a  good  income, 
and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  practical  and  progressive  agriculturists  of  his 
community. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1892,  Mr.  Brenneis  was  united  in  marriage  to  Aliss 
Fannie  Butcher,  a  daughter  of  Iredel  Butcher,  of  Richmantown,  New  Jersey. 
They  now  have  an  interesting  little  daughter.  Viola.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Bridgeport  Grange,  and  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Eagle.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  board  of  registry  of  Logan  township.  Having  always  lived  in  that 
township,  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  enjoys  the  high  regard  of  the 
best  people  of  the  localit}'. 


WILLIAM  G.  NIXOX. 

/William  G.  Xixon,  prominent  in  banking  circles,  in  Cumberland  county, 
/New  Jersey,  was  Ijorn  in  Fairfield  township,  Cumberland  county,  December 
6,  1 81 8,  the  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Mar}'  (Thompson)  Xixon. 

The  Xixon  ancestral  line  probably  goes  back  to  1685.  when  two  English 
ancestors,  brothers,  came  over  with  the  Penn  colony  to  Philadelphia.  One 
of  these  brotliers  settled  in  what  is  now  Cumberland  county,  Xew  Jersey,  and 
is  probably  the  ]jrogenitor  of  the  Xixons  in  this  region.  The  line  of  record 
is  Jeremiah  (ist).  liorn  February  i,  171C);  Jeremiah  (2d),  born  April  6, 
1739:  Jeremiah  (3d),  born  April  J^,  1770;  Jeremiah  (4th),  born  September 
20,  1794,  the  father  of  William  (j..  born  December  6.  1818,  the  first  son  and 
second  child   of  a   faniih'  of  six   children.     Thev  were   in  order  of  birth. 


^'^^ Jn^C(r^.^iy 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  289 

Isabel,  William  G.,  John  Thompson,  James  O.,  Rhoda  and  Anna.  Many  of 
the  children  of  the  various  members  of  this  family  have  held  important  busi- 
ness, financial  and  ofiScial  positions  in  this  and  other  states;  and  have 
been  and  are  consequential  factors  in  church,  state  and  the  business  world. 
Thev  include  presidents  of  banks,  memljers  and  officers  of  large  corpora- 
tions, and  directors  and  trustees  of  prominent  institutions  of  learning-. 

William  G.  Nixon  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Delaware 
and  of  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey.  Refusing  to  go  to  college  and 
having  a  strong  liking  for  finance,  he  left  school  in  his  seventeenth  year  and 
took  a  position  in  a  banking  house  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  He 
remained  with  the  house  for  three  years,  when  he  received  an  offer  from  the 
Cumberland  Bank,  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  which  he  accepted.  In 
1844  he  was  elevated  to  the  position  of  cashier  in  this  bank,  a  position  which 
he- held  until  his  resignation  in  1885,  when  he  was  made  the  i)resident  of 
the  bank. 

In  November.  1843.  ^^  ^'^'^s  married  to  Sarah  B..  a  daughter  of  James 
B.  Potter,  the  president  of  the  First  Cumberland  Bank.  They  have  had  two 
children:  James  Boyd,  born  August  i,  1847,  ^'^as  graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  was  a  trusted  and  successful  lawyer,  married  Eleanore  M.  Scull,  a 
granddaughter  of  David  Reeves,  the  founder  of  the  Cumberland  nail  and 
iron  works  at  Bridgeton  (1816)  and  had  six  children:  Mar)-,  who  married 
a  lawyer  of  Council  Blufifs,  Iowa;  Mabel,  Norma,  Elanore.  Boyd  and  Barron. 
The  second  son,  William  Barron,  now  deceased,  born  July  19,  1855,  married 
Mar\'  Alice,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lincoln,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
William  G.  The  deceased  lost  his  life  by  the  accident  of  a  collision  of 
carriages  in  Philadelphia.  September  3.  1893. 


GEORGE  J.  KINKLE.  JR. 

As  the  proprietor  of  a  good  market  in  Bridgeton  George  A.  Kinkle  is 
connected  with  the  business  interests  of  Cumberland  county.  He  was  born 
September  3.  1861,  in  Jackson,  Atlantic  county,  his  parents  being  George 
and  Man.-  (Rick)  Kinkle.  The  family  name  is  of  German  origin.  The 
paternal  grandfather  v.as  Joseph  Kinkle,  who  resided  in  Wittenberg,  Ger- 
manv.  where  he  carried  on  business  as  a  wine  merchant.  He  had  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  came  to  this  country.  George  Kinkle,  Sr.. 
the  father  of  our  subject,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  in  early  manhood 
and  took  up  his  abode  in  Jackson,  Cumberland  county,  where  he  afterward 
married  Miss  Mav  Rick.    Subsequently  he  removed  to  Bridgeton,  where  he 


290  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

Ijecame  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel.  He  is  now  living  retired  in  this  city.  His 
political  sup4:)ort  is  given  to  the  Democratic  party  and  he  is  a  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  resident  of  Cumberland  county.  His  wife  is  also  living, 
and  they  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  In  their  family  are  three 
sons  and  four  daughters:  George,  Jacob,  John,  ]Mary.  William,  Carrie  and 
Birdie. 

George  .\.  Kinkle,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Bridgeton.  completing  the  regular  course.  He  after- 
ward learned  the  butcher's  trade,  which  he  has  since  followed.  In  1883  he 
began  conducting  a  market  en  his  own  account  at  No.  40  South  Pearl  street, 
and  has  since  secured  a  liberal  patronage,  meeting  with  creditable  success  in 
his  business  affairs.  He  is  energetic  and  earnest  in  his  desire  to  please  his 
patrons,  and  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1883,  Mr.  Kinkle  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Green, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  two  daughters, — Emma  and  Clara.  Mr.  Kinkle 
belongs  to  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church.  He  possesses  considerable  musical  talent  and  at  one 
time  was  a  member  of  the  City  Cornet  Band  of  Bridgeton,  of  eighteen  pieces. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Bridgeton  Castle,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle; 
Cohanzey  Tribe,  I.  O.  R.  'SI.,  and  Cumberland  Lodge,  K.  P.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  politics,  supporting  the  Republican  party,  and  always  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  In  1881  he  became  connected  with 
the  Cohanzey  (No.  i)  Engine  &  Hose  Company,  now  the  Bridgeton  Fire 
Department,  and  has  since  labored  effectivelv  to  promote  its  interests.  Since 
April,  1899.  he  has  served  as  the  chief  of  the  department,  which  is  a  paid 
department  of  twenty-seven  members.  Well  equipped,  its  work  has  been 
most  useful  and  its  apparatus  includes  two  engines,  one  hook  and  ladder 
wagon,  one  hose  cart  and  two  three-wheeled  trucks.  He  was  elected  by  the 
city  council,  December  25,  1899,  to  the  position  of  electrician  of  the  Bridge- 
ton  fire  department. 

Mr.  Kinkle  is  a  progressive  and  pulilic-spirited  citizen  who  gives  a  loyal 
support  to  all  measures  which  he  believes  to  be  for  the  public  benefit,  and 
his  labors  have  resulted  in  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  city  in 
which  he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 


FRANK  S.   FITHIAN. 


Frank  S.  Fithian  is  a  financier  of  marked  ability  who  is  now  occupying 
the  responsible  position  of  chief  clerk  in  the  water  department  of  the  city  of 
Camden.     His  ability  in  controlling  extensive  business  interests  well  fits 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  291 

him  for  the  duties  that  now  devolve  upon  liim.  and  in  a  most  efficient  manner 
he  has  fulfilled  the  work  of  his  office. 

JMr.  Fithian  was  born  in  Bridgeton.  New  Jersey,  December  15,  1864, 
and  is  a  son  of  Charles  B.  Fithian,  a  native  of  Cumberland  county.  The 
grandfather  also  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  and  the  great-grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Scotland.  Charles  B.  Fithian  has  made  farming  his  life  work 
and  is  now  residing  in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He 
married  Emma  Sheppard,  also  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  and  to  them 
were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  six  are  living.  Frank  S.  Fithian  obtained 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Bridgeton,  but  put  aside  his  text- 
books at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  and  entered  upon  his  business  career  in 
the  capacity  of  errand  boy  with  John  J.  Bailey  &  Company,  proprietors  of 
a  large  dry-goods  and  notion  house  in  Philadelphia.  Gradually  he  worked 
his  way  upward,  his  close  application,  his  fidelity  and  ability  winning  him 
promotion  from  time  to  time,  until  he  becamic  the  head  of  one  of  the  depart- 
ments of  the  store.  In  1891  he  came  to  Camden  and  in  June  of  that  year 
was  appointed  by  the  city  council  to  the  office  of  chief  clerk  in  the  water 
department,  a  position  w'hich  he  has  since  acceptably  filled.  There  annually 
passes  through  his  hands  in  this  department  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
dollars,  handling  in  the  month  of  June,  1899,  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand 
dollars.  To  those  who  know  Mr.  Fithian  and  are  familiar  with  his  character- 
istics, it  is  needless  to  say  that  he  has  been  most  faithful  to  his  trust,  account- 
ing for  every  cent  that  has  passed  over  his  counter.  He  has  ever  merited  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  and  is  not  only  honorable  but  possesses  business 
qualifications  that  enable  him  to  administer  the  affairs  of  his  office  in  a  most 
efficient  manner. 

On  the  30th  of  Xovemljer,  1883.  'Sir.  Fithian  was  happily  married  to  Aliss 
Emma  Wrifford,  the  daughter  of  Charles  W'rififord,  a  contractor  of  Camden, 
and  they  now  have  one  child,  Leslie,  and  their  pleasant  home  is  the  center 
of  the  cultured  society  circle.  Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Fithian  has 
been  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  Republican  party  and  is  a  recognized  leader 
in  its  ranks,  from  the  third  ward  of  Camden.  He  keeps  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day  and  does  all  in  his  power  to  secure  the  adoption  of 
Republican  principles.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
and  was  the  chairman  of  the  committee  that  started  the  Camden  Manual 
Training  School.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  with 
the  Red  Men,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  and  the  Benevolent  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  having  served  for  eight  years  as  financial  secretary  of 
the  Golden  Eagle  Lodge.  While  holding  political  office  he  manifests  the 
same  fidelity  in  his  work  as  if  it  was  a  private  business  interest.     In  political 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

circles  lie  is  very  pro'ininent.  and  in  all  classes  of  society  he  is  popular,  for  in 
manner  he  is  genial  and  courteous  and  has  the  ability  to  tactfully  recognize 
good  points  in  every  individual. 


\VILLL\M  E.  MASSEY. 


The  history  of  this  gentleman  seems  almost  phenomenal,  for  he  has 
attained  a  degree  of  success  that  is  remarkable.,  He  is  the  youngest  but 
the  most  prominent  real-estate  dealer  in  Ocean  City,  and  his  business  has 
reached  extensive  proportions,  thus  bringing  to  him  a  comfortable  income. 
He  was  born  in  Englishtown,  Monmouth  county.  New  Jersey,  October  17, 
1875,  and  is  a  .son  of  William  A.  and  Mary  Jane  (Coolbaugh)  Massey.  His 
father  is  a  well-known  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  was 
born  in  Kent  county,  Delaware.  He  was  educated  in  Fort  Edward  Insti- 
tute, New  York,  and  at  Dickinson  College,  where  he  completed  a  classical 
course  and  was  graduated  in  the  year  of  1873.  He  then  entered  the 
ministry  and  became  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  conference.  He  served 
a  full  term  of  three  years  at  Little  Silver,  Bordentown  and  Swedesboro 
by  appointment,  and  in  the  spring  of  1890  was  assigned  to  work  at  Ocean 
Citv,  where  he  remained  for  four  years.  During  his  pastorate  at  this  place 
a  house  of  worship  and  a  commodious  parsonage  were  erected,  and  the 
membership  of  the  organization  was  greatly  augmented.  On  removing 
from  Ocean  Cit_\'  he  Vicnt  to  South  River,  thence  to  Camden,  and  at  the 
present  time  he  is  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Goshen.  His 
life  is  marked  by  earnest  de\-otion  to  the  cause  which  he  has  espoused  and 
his  influence  is  widely  felt  in  church  circles.  He  has  been  twice  married, 
the  children  of  the  first  union  being  William  Everett:  Sarah  Jane,  the  wife 
of  Robert  Barl)er.  who  is  engaged  in  mining,  lumbering  and  hardware 
business  in  Hazelton,  Pennsylvania;  and  Everett  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  November,  1892,  at  the 
age  of  fortv-two.  and  Rev.  Massey  has  since  married  Miss  Ro.xanna  G. 
Corson,  by  whom  he  has  three  children:     Gershom.  Reynolds  and  Anna  E. 

William  E.  Massey,  of  this  review,  having  attended  the  public  schools, 
entered  Pennington  Seminary  in  1892  and  would  have  graduated  the  follow- 
ing year  but  for  the  death  of  his  mother,  which  occasioned  a  change  in  his 
plans.  It  was  at  first  his  intention  to  prepare  for  entrance  in  the  Columbia 
Law  School,  but  putting  aside  this  view  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  real- 
estate  and  insurance  business  in  1893.  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  Open- 
ino-  an  of^ce  in  Ocean  City  he  has  prospered  from  the  beginning,  and  his 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  293 

business  has  constantly  grown  in  volume  and  importance.  He  was  asso- 
ciated with  Charles  A.  Campbell  under  the  partnership  name  of  W.  E. 
Massey  &  Company  for  two  years,  and  after  that  connection  was  dissolved 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Reuben  W.  Edwards,  under  the  firm  style  of 
IMassey  &  Edwards,  doing  a  real-estate,  insurance  and  conveyancing  busi- 
ness, with  their  office  at  No.  811  Asbury  avenue.  Mr.  Massey  is  also 
financially  interested  in  the  insurance  firm  of  E.  C.  Leeds  &  Company,  one 
of  the  oldest  in  their  line  in  Camden.  He  is  interested  in  several  beach 
front  operations. 

Mr.  Massey  w^as  married  September  22,  1897,  to  Miss  Wilhelmina 
Radcliffe,  a  daughter  of  Richard  B.  Radcliffe,  of  Millville,  who  is  the 
manager  of  the  Millville  Manufacturing  Company.  They  have  one  child, 
W.  Everett.  Mr.  Massey  is  now  serving  as  a  steward  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  as  the  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  several  ijeneficent  orders  in  the  city.  In  politics 
he  is  an  earnest  Republican  and  is  now  filling  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  A  gentleman  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  he  is  possessed  of 
innate  refinement  and  superior  intelligence,  and  in  manner  he  is  affable  and 
genial.  His  success  has  been  so  worthily  won  that  the  most  envious 
could  not  wish  that  his  business  had  been  other  than  prosperous.  His 
methods  in  all  transactions  are  entirely  reliable  and  all  w'ho  know  him  enter- 
tain for  him  the  highest  regard  on  account  of  his  excellent  qualities  of  heart 
and  mind. 


EDWARD  LEE  ROSS. 


As  the  river  whose  deep  and  steady  current,  winding  among  fair  land- 
scapes, past  blossoming  fields  and  through  busy  towns,  blessing  millions  of 
people  and  enhancing  the  wealth  of  nations,  affords  little  of  that  wild  and 
romantic  scenery  -nhich  startles  the  traveler  or  delights  the  artist,  so  those 
lives  w'hich  contribute  most  tow'ard  the  improvement  of  a  state  and  the  well- 
being  of  a  people  are  seldom  the  ones  which  furnish  the  most  brilliant  pas- 
sages for  the  pen  of  the  historian  or  biographer.  There  is,  in  the  anxious 
and  laborious  struggle  for  an  honorable  competence  and  a  solid  career  of 
the  business  or  professional  man  fighting  the  every-day  battle  of  life,  but  little 
to  attract  the  idle  reader  in  search  of  a  sensational  chapter;  but  for  a  mind 
thoroughly  awake  to  the  reality  and  meaning  of  human  existence  there  are 
noble  lessons  in  the  life  of  a  man,  who,  without  other  means  than  a  clear  head, 
a  strong  arm  and  a  true  heart,  conquers  adversity,  and  toiling  on  through 
the  work-a-dav  vears  of  a  long  career  finds  that  he  has  won  not  only  wealth 


294  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

but  also  something  far  greater  and  higher, — the  deserved  respect  and  esteem 
of  those  with  whom  his  years  of  active  Hfe  placed  him  in  contact. 

Such  a  man  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Cape  May  Court  House 
is  Edward  Lee  Ross,  who  was  born  in  the  city  which  is  still  his  home,  March 
ID,  1852,  his  parents  being  John  H.  and  Rhoda  (Ludham)  Ross.  The  Ross 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  Thomas  Ross,  the  paternal  great-grandfather, 
li\ed  in  Xunmieytown,  Cape  May  county,  and  was  at  one  time  a  man  of 
considerable  wealth.  His  political  support  was  given  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  died  in  1830,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His  children  were 
Thomas,  John,  Charlotte  and  Mary.  Of  this  family  Thomas  Ross  became 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  at  Nummeytown,  made  farm- 
ing his  life  work,  and  resided  at  Green  Creek,  Cape  May  county,  yet  in  his 
early  years  he  was  captain  of  a  sloop.  His  political  support  was  given  the 
Whig  party,  and  in  his  religious  belief  he  was  a  Methodist.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  a  militia  company  during  the  war  of  1812  and  did  patrol  duty, 
acting  as  guard  along  the  shore.  He  married  Eleanor  Hand,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  A\'ilson:  Julia,  the  wife  of  Anthony  Penezet;  John  H., 
our  subject's  father,  and  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Smith;  George  W.  and 
Edmond  Lee.  The  parents  of  these  children  were  both  seventy-five  years  of 
age  when  they  departed  this  life. 

Jeremiah  Ludham,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Cape  JNIay  county  and  lived  at  To\^nsend  Lilet  in  Middle  township.  By 
occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  but  spent  his  last  years  in  retirement  from  active 
labors.  He  held  membership  in  the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
took  an  active  part  in  its  work,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth 
and  insure  its  success.  He  exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  ^Vhig  party.  The  children  of  Jeremiah  Ludham 
and  his  wife  Maria  were:  Lottie,  the  wife  of  David  T.  Smith,  a  sea  captain, 
who  afterward  followed  farming,  but  is  now  living  retired;  Amelia,  the  wife 
of  ex-Senator  Richard  S.  Leaning,  who  was  a  shipbuilder  of  Dennisville; 
Rhoda  S.,  the  mother  of  our  subject;  Ruhama,  the  widow  of  Humphrey 
Cresse,  who  was  a  farmer  and  speculator  and  became  quite  wealthy  and 
prominent;  she  has  two  children, — Elida  and  Lena,  but  the  latter  is  now 
deceased;  Franklin,  who  died  at.  the  age  of  thirty  years.  Emma  became  the 
wife  of  Stephen  H.  Bennett,  a  miner  and  farmer,  who  lived  a  retired  life  for 
thirty-two  years,  and  b}-  whom  she  had  two  children:  Frederick,  a  civil 
engineer,  now  in  Central  America;  and  Lenora,  at  home. 

John  H.  Ross,  the  father  of  our  su1)ject.  was  born  at  Green  Creek.  Octo- 
ber 26,  1820,  and  was  educated  in  private  schools  in  Cape  May  county.  He 
was  a  seafaring  man  in  early  life,  shipping  before  the  mast  at  the  age  of  nine- 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEIF  JERSEY.  295 

teen  years.  For  fourteen  years  he  experienced  the  pleasures  and  hardships 
of  "a  life  on  the  ocean  wave,"  and  for  six  3-ears  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel. 
He  owned  and  sailed  the  schooner  Jake  Lancaster,  built  at  Cape  ]\Iay,  and 
was  also  financially  interested  in  other  vessels.  He  then  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  followed  until  1866.  when  he  retired  from 
the  farm,  and  has  since  been  engaged  m  the  oyster  business  in  Burleigh.  He 
is  now  residing  at  Cape  May  Court  House,  and  is  enjoying  the  comforts 
Secured  through  the  handsome  competence  that  has  come  to  him  through 
his  well  directed  and  unremitting  efforts.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  in  his  religious  faith  a  iSIethodist,  holding  membership  in  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Cape  May  Court  House.  He  has  served  as 
a  steward  and  trustee,  and  has  taken  a  very  active  and  efficient  interest  in 
the  church  work.  He  has  reached  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine  years, 
and  his  wife  has  passed  the  age  of  se\'enty  years.  In  their  famil}-  were  two 
children,  but  one  son  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  public  and  private  schools  of  Cape  May  Court  House  Mr.  Ross 
of  this  review  acquired  his  education,  and  also  pursued  his  studies  for  a  time 
in  Philadelphia.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  home  and  went  to  sea.  This 
was  much  against  the  desire  of  his  parents,  but  the  water  had  great  attrac- 
tion for  him,  and  exercising  his  own  pleasure  and  will  in  the  matter,  he 
secured  a  position  on  the  A.  M.  Aldrich,  a  vessel  engaged  in  the  coasting 
trade.  He  followed  the  sea  for  six  j-ears,  and  was  promoted  by  successive 
stages.  Owing  to  ill  health,  in  1873.  ^^c  ^^'^s  obliged  to  retire  from  service. 
He  spent  the  winter  of  1873-4  for  the  benefit  of  his  health  in  Colorado.  Re- 
turning in  the  summer  of  1874.  he  was  made  master  of  the  Howard  A.  Hunt 
in  February,  1875.  which  made  voyages  to  southern  ports,  visiting  Cuba  and 
points  in  South  America.  In  1883  he  purchased  the  mercantile  business 
of  Smith  Hand  at  Cape  May  Court  House.  He  erected  his  present  store 
building,  twenty-four  by  sixty  feet,  and  now  has  a  splendidly  equipped  gen- 
eral mercantile  establishment,  which  receives  a  fair  share  of  the  public 
patronage.  He  also  owns  the  adjoining  store  building,  the  rental  therefrom 
supplementing  his  income,  and  is  engaged  in  the  coal,  grain  and  flour  busi- 
ness. His  operations  in  those  commodities  are  extensive  and  make  him 
one  of  the  leading  dealers  in  those  lines.  He  also  conducts  a  feed  mill,  and 
purchasing  grain  by  the  car  load  from  the  west  he  converts  it  into  feed, 
which  he  sells  for  the  wholesale  trade.  His  business  interests  are  varied  and 
extensive,  and  in  addition  to  those  mentioned  he  is  a  member  and  director 
of  the  Mechanics  and  Laborers'  Building  &  Loan  Association,  with  which 
he  became  connected  before  attaining  his  majority.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  State  Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Association  of  Xew  Jersey,  and  a  member 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

and  director  of  tlie  Building  &  Loan  and  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  1877,  Mr.  Ross  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna 
Lloyd,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Spaulding)  Lloyd,  the  former  a 
marble  cutter  of  Philadelphia.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  have  been  born 
three  children:  Howard,  a  hotel  clerk  in  Hadden  Hotel,  in  .Vtlantic  City; 
John;  and  Bertha,  a  graduate  of  the  State  Normal  School  and  engaged  in 
teaching. 

Lt  his  iiolitical  affiliations  Mr.  Ross  has  always  been  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican and  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  growth  and  advancement  of  the 
party,  being  a  recognized  leader  in  its  ranks  in  the  county.  The  first  public 
office  he  ever  held  was  that  of  county  collector,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
May,  1888.  At  each  election  since  that  time  he  has  been  chosen  for  the 
office,  being  elected  in  May,  1899,  for  a  three-years  term,  and  by  virtue  of 
his  office  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders.  Elected  to  the 
state  legislature  he  served  in  the  house  in  the  sessions  of  1892,  1893  and 
1894,  filling  that  position  at  the  time  of  the  coal-combine  excitement  and 
during  the  period  of  the  race-track  legislation.  In  1896  he  was  elected  to 
the  state  senate,  and  served  on  the  committees  on  appropriations  and  riparian 
rights.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  several  civic  societies,  belonging  to  Ar- 
butus Lodge,  No.  no,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Hereford  Lodge,  No.  108,  I.  O.  O.  F.; 
Ponemah  Tribe,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  of  which  he  is  treasurer;  and  Friendship  Lodge, 
No.  45,  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Cape  May  Guards, 
and  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  held  a  number  of  official 
positions. 

Mr.  Ross  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  able  business  men  of  Cape  May 
Court  House.  His  sagacity  and  foresight  enable  him  to  make  judicious  in- 
vestments, while  his  diligence,  indomitable  energy  and  undaunted  perse- 
verance have  won  him  a  prosperity  that  numbers  him  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  county.  He  has  also  arisen  to  a  position  of  distinction  in  the 
political  circles  of  the  state,  and  his  career,  both  public  and  private,  is  marked 
by  the  strictest  integrity  and  faithfulness  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


F.  L.  RICHARDSON. 


Mr.  Richardson,  who  is  now  serving  as  the  postmaster  of  Cape  May,  is 
widely  known  in  the  county,  for  he  has  long  been  identified  with  its  business 
interests  and  has  thereby  gained  an  extended  acquaintance.  He  was  bom 
at  Rio  Grande,  February  23,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah 
(Leaming)  Richardson.     His  great-grandfather,  Jeremiah  Richardson,  was 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEJV  JERSEY. 


297 


a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  with  his  brother  came  to  Cape  May  county  at 
an  early  period  in  its  development.  Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  bom  in 
this  county,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  after  attaining  his  majority  he  built 
a  vessel,  which  was  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade.  He  also  owned  a  farm 
at  Rio  Grande,  where  his  family  lived,  but  he  was  lost  at  sea,  when  about 
forty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  Republican  and  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth. 
In  his  family  were  five  children:  F.  L.,  of  this  review;  Sophia,  the  wife  of 
Brookfield  Goble;  Jeremiah,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years;  Julia, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years:  Charles  W.,  who  married  Miss  Lee. 
The  mother  of  these  children  was  called  to  her  final  rest  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years. 

Mr.  Richardson  of  this  review  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  schooJs 
of  Rio  Grande,  but  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  was  forced  to  put  aside  his  text- 
books and  aid  in  the  support  of  the  family,  for  he  was  the  eldest  son,  and  his 
services  were  needed  in  providing  a  livelihood.  He  began  work  at  thirty 
cents  per  day.  He  reared  his  youngest  brother,  Charles,  who  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Adams  &  Richardson,  wholesale  dealers  in  provisions  and 
groceries,  conducting  one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the 
south.  On  leaving  home  F.  L.  Richardson  went  to  sea  and  spent  consid- 
erable time  on  vessels  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade.  He  afterward  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  butcher's  trade  and  then  engaged  in  the  grocery 
and  provision  business  in  Cape  May,  continuing  the  conduct  of  his  store  for 
fifteen  years,  when  ill  health  forced  him  to  dispose  of  the  store.  He  then 
became  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  at  Cape  May, — the  Carroll  Villa, — which 
his  wife  still  owns,^ — and  later  he  became  the  proprietor  of  the  Star  Villa.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  representing  the  Royal,  London, 
Lancaster  and  the  German-American  Companies,  of  which  he  has  been 
agricultural  agent  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in 
speculating  in  real  estate,  and  owns  some  valuable  property.  On  the  14th  of 
April,  1888,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  to  the  position  of  post- 
master and  served  for  four  years  and  eleven  months.  In  May.  1898,  he  was 
reappointed  to  that  position  by  President  McKinley,  and  is  now  acceptably 
discharging  the  duties  of  that  position.  He  has  ser\^ed  in  other  public 
offices,  having  been  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  also  city  treasurer. 
For  two  terms  of  three  years  each  he  was  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and 
in  1888  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legislature.  He 
was  also  sergeant-at-arms  in  the  state  senate  for  two  years,  and  in  all  these 
offices  has  made  a  most  creditable  record,  winning  high  commendation  bv 
his  faithful  and  patriotic  discharge  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him.     He 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

is  a  member  of  the  Union  Rcpul)lican  Cluh  and  his  iniluence  has  been  quite 
marked  in  ])olitical  circles. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1875,  Mr.  Richardson  married  Milhccnt  Hil- 
dretli,  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children, — Frank  C.  and  Edith.  The 
daughter  is  at  home  and  the  son  is  now  a  member  of  the  engineering  corps 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  having  graduated  in  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania on  the  completion  of  a  course  in  the  electrical,  mechanical  and  civil 
engineering  department. 

Of  a  number  of  civic  societies  I\lr.  Richardson  is  a  valued  representative. 
He  belongs  to  Cape  May  Lodge,  No.  30,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  its  treasurer 
for  seven  years.  He  also  belongs  to  Richmond  Chapter,  No.  22,  R.  A.  M., 
and  Olcott  Commandery,  No.  10,  K.  T.,  both  of  Millville.  He  belongs  to 
Kensington  Lodge,  No.  5,  Knights  of  Birmingham,  is  a  charter  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Hep- 
tasophs.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Masonic  Relief  Association  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Relief  Association  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey.  One 
of  the  most  prominent  and  esteemed  citizens  of  Cape  May,  over  his  record 
there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong,  and  he  has  left  the  impress  of  his  strong 
individuality  for  good  upon  the  political,  .social  and  business  life  of  the 
countv. 


GEORGE  HAMPTON. 


George  Hampton,  of  the  firm  of  Hampton  &  Fithian,  attorneys  at  law, 
Bridgeton,  was  born  here  February  14.  1869,  a  son  of  Charles  G.  and  ]\Iary 
Ann  (Errickson)  Hampton.  Henry  Hampton,  the  great-grandfather  of  the 
young  Bridgeton  lawyer,  was  a  native  of  Cedar\'ille,  Cumberland  county, 
and  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  married  Sarah  Har- 
ris, a  daughter  of  Isaac  Harris  and  his  wife,  Ruth  Ogden,  of  Cedarville. 
Henry,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Manan- 
tico,  9n  the  Maurice  river,  and  was  a  farmer,  but  there  is  only  a  brief 
record  of  his  simple  country  life. 

Charles  G.  Hampton,  the  father  of  George,  was  born  in  Milhille,  this 
county,  receiving"  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  place,  also  in 
Shiloh  Academy  and  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Trenton,  this  state. 
From  the  latter  institution  he  received  a  diploma.  After  his  graduation 
he  accepted  a  position  as  instructor  in  the  Giles  Street  School,  of  Bridge- 
ton,  where  he  remained  for  some  years.  He  afterward  taught  for  a  short 
time  in  Salem,  New  Jersey,  after  which  he  had  charge  of  the  Bank  Street 
School  in  Bridgeton  until  1875.     In  that  year  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Cum- 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY 


299 


berland  county  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  represented  ward  i  in  the 
common  council  for  a  time,  and  was  the  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas 
during  Governor  Leon  Abbett's  first  term  of  ofifice.  His  valuable  service 
in  this  last  capacity  received  due  recognition  by  a  reappointment  on  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term  of  five  years.  In  his  second  term  he  resigned 
in  order  to  accept  the  ofiice  of  county  superintendent  of  schools,  for  which 
he  was  well  adapted  both  by  education  and  practical  knowledge.  This 
ofifice  he  filled  until  his  death,  which  occurred  February  22,  1895.  He 
married  Miss  ^Ithvx  Ann  Errickson,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  and  Anna 
Buck  Westcott  Errickson,  of  Leesburg,  and  became  the  father  of  a  num- 
ber of  children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
and  Mary  B.  W.,  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Brown,  of  Cranbun,',  Middlesex 
county,  New  Jersey.  The  mother,  who  sur^-ives  her  husband,  is  a  com- 
municant of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Bridgeton.  ;Mrs.  Hampton 
died  May  i,  1899. 

George  Hampton  obtained  his  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Bridgeton,  and  subsequently  studied  at  the  \\'est  Jersey  Academv,  from 
wdiich  in  due  time  he  graduated.  After  leaving  the  academy  he  read  law 
in  the  oflfice  of  Potter  &  Xixon,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  during  the 
November  term  of  the  supreme  court  in  1894.  He  remained  in  Colonel 
Potter's  offiice  as  his  assistant  until  September.  1895,  when  he  formed  his 
present  partnership  with  J.  Hampton  Fithian.  The  families  of  both  are 
well  known  and  highly  respected  in  Bridgeton.  Mr.  Hampton  was  elected 
mayor  of  the  City  of  Bridgeton  in  the  spring  of  1900,  for  a  term  of 
three  years. 

He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  Xo.  129.  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
of  which  he  is  a  past  grand  master;  of  Colanthe  Lodge,  Xo.  103,  Knights 
of  Pythias;  of  Hope  Council,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  3ilechanics; 
and  of  Tewah  Tribe,  Xo.  197,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 


JOSEPH  H.  HAXES. 


The  possibilities  of  the  present  and  not  of  the  future  are  those  which  in- 
dicate the  path  to  success.  The  man  who  can  realize  that  the  present  is  his 
opportunity  and  that  his  chance  lies  not  in  some  coming  time,  is  the  one  who 
advances  steadily  toward  the  goal  of  prosperity,  passing  many  who  started 
upon  life's  highway  before  he  began  his  journey.  It  is  this  element  in  the 
career  of  !Mr.  Hanes  that  has  enabled  him  to  gain  a  prominent  position  in 
the  business  world,  and  his  marked  abilitv  has  gained  him  recognition  in 


300  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

jjolitical  circles  where  public  honors  have  been  bestowed  upon  him.  He  is 
recognized  to-day  as  one  of  the  leatling  and  influential  citizens  of  Cape  May 
county,  and  an  enumeration  of  those  men  of  the  present  generation  who 
have  won  honor  and  public  recognition  for  themselves  and  at  the  same  time 
ha\e  honored  the  state  to  which  they  belong  would  be  incomplete  were 
there  failure  to  make  prominent  reference  to  the  one  whose  name  initiates 
this  paragraph. 

Mr.  Hanes  was  born  in  Woodstown.  Salem  county.  New'  Jersey,  Se])- 
temher  20.  1845,  his  parents  being  John  and  Harriet  (Mattson)  Hanes.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Gloucester  county,  Xew  Jersey,  and  for  fifty  years  re- 
sided in  Woodstown,  Salem  county,  where  he  followed  various  pursuits. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig  and  a  stanch  abolitionist,  and  when  the  Repul)- 
lican  party  was  formed  to  prevent  the  further  extension  of  slavery  he  joined 
its  ranks  and  gave  to  it  his  earnest  support.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  died  in  the  faith  of  that  society  in  1863,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three  years.  He  had  seven  children:  'Sla.ry  Ann,  the  wife  of 
Clarence  Mahew,  a  wheelwright  at  Greenwich.  New  Jersey;  Margaret,  the 
wife  of  John  Hanes,  a  farmer  of  Salem  county;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Harry  Eft,  then  a  farmer  of  Salem  county,  but  is  now  living  in  El  Paso, 
Illinois;  Esther,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Middleton,  a  harness-maker  of  Camden, 
New  Jersey;  Aaron,  a  brick  manufacturer  of  Yorktown,  New  Jersey,  who 
married  Charlotte  Stanger,  of  Salem  county;  Edward,  who  married  Harriet 
Piatt  and  is  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Woodstown;  and  Joseph,  of  this 
review. 

Hon.  Joseph  H.  Hanes  acquired  his  education  in  the  Woodstown  Acad- 
emy, a  school  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  put  aside  his  text-books  and  began  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade,  and  on  its  completion  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  after 
which  he  established  a  shop  in  Cape  May,  where  he  carried  on  business  along 
those  lines  for  twenty  years.  He  was  an  expert  worker  in  iron,  and  his 
skill  gained  him  a  large  patronage.  From  1866  until  1886  he  closely  applied 
himself  to  that  work  and  then  began  general  contracting  on  public  works, 
making  a  specialty  of  the  construction  of  water-works.  He  built  the  .Woods- 
town  water-works,  the  Milford,  in  Delaware,  and  did  the  greater  part  of 
the  work  on  the  water-works  in  Salem  and  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  and  in 
Wayne,  Pennsylvania.  He  also  built  the  Cape  May  water-works,  and  the 
lighthouse  at  Jocaalake  Bay,  Virginia.  He  employs  seventy-five  men. 
which  indicates  the  extent  of  his  business.  His  marked  skill  and  thorough 
understanding  of  the  best  methods  of  construction  of  water-works  have 
secured  him  a  liberal  [jatronage.  and  his  contracts  are  important  and  nn- 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  301 

merous.  Thus  through  the  legitimate  channels  of  business  he  has  acquired  a 
handsome  competence,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  representatives 
of  the  industrial  interests  of  his  section  of  the  state. 

His  fitness  for  leadership  has  frequently  led  to  the  selection  of  Mr. 
Hanes  for  position  of  public  trust  and  responsibility,  and  he  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  prominent  representatives  of  the  Repubhcan  party  in  his  county. 
In  1878  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council  of  Cape  May  for  a  three-years 
term,  and  so  ably  discharged  his  duties  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1881  and 
again  in  1884.  In  1885  he  was  once  more  chosen  for  that  of^ce,  but  declined 
to  sen^e.  For  three  years  he  acted  as  the  president  of  the  council  and  labored 
most  earnestly  and  efifectually  for  the  best  interests  of  the  city,  largely  pro- 
moting its  progress  along  educational  and  material  lines.  In  1885  he  was 
elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  senate.  For  six  years  previous 
to  that  time  the  county  had  given  Democratic  majorities,  but  he  was 
selected  over  Representati\-e  Ludlam  by  a  majority  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  and  served  in  the  upper  house  of  the  general  assembly  for 
three  years.  He  was  the  chairman  of  the  committees  on  unfinished  busi- 
ness and  the  Industrial  School  for  Girls  and  was  a  member  of  the  commit- 
tees on  corporations,  labor  and  industries,  and  passed  bills.  An  active 
working  member  of  the  senate,  he  labored  earnestly  and  conscientiously  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  state  and  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality 
upon  the  legislation  of  New  Jersey.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  many  county 
and  congressional  conventions  and  his  opinions  carry  weight  in  the  councils 
of  his  party. 

Mr.  Hanes  is  now  the  chief  of  the  volunteer  fire  department  of  Cape 
May,  which  ranks  among  the  best  in  the  state,  a  position  which  is  largely  due 
to  him.  He  was  one  of  its  organizers  and  has  been  its  chief  for  ten  years. 
The  department  consists  of  three  companies  of  forty  men,  and  is  splendidly 
equipped.  There  are  now  two  engine  houses,  seven  horses,  two  steam  fire 
engines,  an  aerial  hook  and  ladder  truck,  two  hose  carriages,  one  chemical 
engine  and  a  complete  modern  system  of  alarm  boxes.  Mr.  Hanes  deserves 
high  compliment  for  the  efficiency  and  superiority  of  the  department,  which 
is  a  continual  safeguard  to  the  city  and  has  done  much  creditable  work  in 
fighting  the  fiery  element. 

The  home  life  of  our  subject  is  very  pleasant,  and  both  Mr.  antl  Mrs. 
Hanes  are  highly  esteemed  and  occupy  an  enviable  position  in  social  cir- 
cles. The  lady  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Harriet  Harris,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Harris,  of  Salem  county,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren: Jennie  C;  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months;  and  Mil- 
dred.    Mr.  Hanes  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternitv,  holding 


30_'  BIOGRAPinCAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

iiKMiiliorslii])  in  Capo  Island  Loili^c.  Xo.  30.  1".  iK;  A.  M..  in  uhicli  he  passed 
all  tlio  chairs,  scrvins;-  as  the  grand  master  ftir  two  years,  lie  is  also  a  mem- 
her  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Tnited  Workmen.  In  relitiion  he  was  reared 
in  the  faith  of  the  Society  of  I'riends,  hnt  now  attends  the  P.aptist  church, 
lie  L;i\es  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  all  movements  which  tend  to  henefit 
the  connnnnity  and  promote  its  progress  along  educational,  social,  material 
and  moral  lines,  lie  has  been  and  is  distinctively  a  man  of  afifairs.  and  one 
who  lias  wielded  a  wide  influence.  .\  strong  mentality,  an  invincible 
courage,  a  most  determined  individualit\-  have  so  entered  into  his  make-up 
as  to  render  him  a  natural  leatler  of  men  and  a  director  of  opinion. 


T.  ALFRED  BODIXE. 


The  history  of  every  successful  man  who  attains  prosperity  through 
earnest  effort  is  worthy  of  perpetuity,  for  it  contains  lessons  of  value  that 
may  be  profitably  followed  by  the  present  and  future  generations.  Along 
the  well  defined  lines  of  labor,  of  perseverance,  of  enterprise  and  diligence 
Mr.  Bodine  worked  liis  way  upward  to  success  and  made  a  reputation  which 
was  indeed  enviable,  for  his  Iiusincss  methods  merited  the  highest  con- 
fidence. 

lie  was  born  in  Tort  Elizabeth.  Xew  Jersey,  December  tt.  1831,  and 
died  January  23,  1899,  in  Camden.  His  father.  Joel  Bodine.  was  a  native  of 
Burlington  countv,  this  state.  Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  and 
at  an  early  age  began  working  for  his  father,  who  was  the  proprietor  of  the 
glass-works  of  Williamstown,  Xew  Jersey.  He  thoroughly  mastered  the 
business  l)oth  in  jirinciple  aiid  detail  and  from  time  to  time  assumed  greater 
responsibility  until  at  length  he  was  made  the  president  of  the  Bodine  Glass 
Company,  manufacturers  of  glass  cans  at  Williamstown.  He  conducted  this 
enterprise  with  marked  ability.  His  considerate  treatment  of  his  employes 
brought  to  him  in  return  their  faithful  service,  and  his  honorable  dealing 
with  his  patrons  secured  him  a  large  trade.  In  1879  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Camtlen,  but  continued  in  the  presidency  of  the  glass  company  and  was 
also  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Glassboro. 

On  the  ^oth  of  Julv,  1854,  Mr.  Bodine  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Phoebe  iMcnch.  a  representative  of  a  jirominent  family  of  Burlington  county. 
Six  children  were  born  of  their  union,  as  follows:  E.  C.  a  resident  of 
Williamstown;  Lewis  F.,  who  makes  his  home  in  Xew  ark,  Xew  Jersey; 
\nabelle,  the  widow  of  S.  B.  Suttons.  of  Camden;  Jennie  B.,  the  widow  of 
A.  T.  W.  Johnson,  of  Camden;    Fanny,  the  wife  of  George  P.  Johnson,  of 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  303 

Camden;    and  Vincent,  married.     The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the 
community,  its  members  holding  high  positions  in  social  circles. 

It  is  often  the  case  when  one  is  engaged  with  extensive  business  interests 
that  little  opportunity  is  found  to  devote  to  the  holier  duties  of  life;  but  Mr. 
Bodine  always  had  time  to  perform  his  part  in  church  work.  He  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  Tabernacle  Alethodist  Episcopal  church,  of  Cam- 
den, and  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth  and  extend  its  influence. 
Socially  he  was  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternitv  and  was  a 
worthy  exponent  of  the  benevolent  principles  of  that  order.  He  had  the 
confidence  anil  high  regard  of  men  in  all  places. 

"His  life  was  noble,  and  the  elements  so  mixed  in  him 
That  Nature  might  stand  up  and  say  to  all  the  world, 
'This  was  a  man.'  " 


CHARLES  R.  BARKER. 

Charles  Rhodes  Barker,  prominently  engaged  in  real  estate  and  in- 
surance in  Newbold,  West  Deptford  township,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jer- 
sey, was  born  in  JefTerson  county.  New  York,  November  12,  1848,  a  son  of 
Rhodes  Barker  and  Mary  E.  Huntington. 

Both  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestry  were  English.  His  grand- 
father, Ebenezer  Barker,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  but  later  became  a 
citizen  of  Oneida  county.  New  York,  where  he  was  a  prominent  and  ]iro- 
gressive  farmer  and  blacksmith.  He  married  Priscilla  Rhodes,  who  also 
was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and  they  had  eleven  children:  Ebenezer,  de- 
ceased, Daniel,  James.  Macomber,  John,  Rhodes,  Peleg,  George,  Josiah.  and 
two  whose  names  are  not  recorded.  Both  grandparents  died  in  New  York 
state.  His  father.  Rhodes  Barker,  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  was 
educated  in  the  iiublic  schools  and  afterward  followed  the  vocation  of  a 
teacher  for  several  years.  He  subsecpiently  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  continued  therein  during  his  after  life.  He  removed  to  New  Jersey 
about  1861  and  died  there  in  February,  1881. 

To  him  and  wife  were  born  four  children:  Charles  Rhodes;  Mary  E.,  the 
wife  of  Dr.  E.  W.  Lawrence,  of  Bridgeport,  New  Jersey;  George  IL,  who 
married  Marion  Simonds  and  resides  in  Pasadena,  California;  and  James 
Newton,  who  resides  at  Newark,  New  Jersey. 

Charles  R.  Barker  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  state 
and  ]\Iantua  Grove,  New  Jersey.    He  was  reared  to  farm  life  and  engaged  in 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   FIRST 

agricultural  pursuits  until  1894.  In  June  of  that  year  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  in  Newbold,  where  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
commissioner  of  deeds.  He  is  a  member  of  Prosperity  Lodge  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Mechanics.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  His 
family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Barker  was  married  in  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  to  Fannie  H..  a 
daughter  of  David  B.  Leslie  and  Abigail  Stevenson.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren,— Gertrude  F.,  George  L.  and  Carroll  C. 


LEWIS   EDWARDS. 


In  the  careful  conduct  of  his  agricultural  interests  and  in  the  com- 
petent management  oi  other  business  aiifairs  Lewis  Edwards  has  acquired 
a  capital  which  numl)ers  him  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  South  Dennis. 
Cape  May  county.  The  town  in  which  he  now  makes  his  home  is  the  place 
of  his  birth,  his  natal  day  being  October  7,  1827.  His  parents  were  Amos 
and  Abigail  (Smith)  Edwards.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Amos  Edwards, 
was  born  on  Long  Island,  but  came  to  South  Dennis  about  1830,  here 
spending  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  ^vas  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
followed  that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  career.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Democracy,  and  his  military  experience  consisted  of  ser\ice 
in  the  war  of  1812,  at  which  time  he  did  coast  patrol  duty.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  died  when  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  They  had  three  children: 
Amos;  Lemuel,  a  blacksmith,  who  married  Rhoda  Smith,  and  has  si.x 
children:  Smith,  Edward,  Julia,  Emma  Shumaker,  James  and  Adele;  and 
James,  who  went  west  when  a  boy. 

Amos  Edwards,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  South  Seaville,  Cape 
May  county,  and  for  many  years  carried  on  blacksmithing  in  Seaville  and 
Dennisville,  his  last  days  being  spent  in  the  latter  place.  He  voted  with  the 
Democracy,  and  was  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth. 
He  married  Abigail  Smith,  daughter  of  Jacob  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Den- 
nisville and  became  a  farmer,  engaging  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  throughout 
his  active  business  life.  For  many  years  he  capably  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  was  also  -postmaster  at  Dennis  Creek  Landing.  He,  too,  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations.  He  died  in  Dennisville  at  the  age  of 
fifty-eight  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Edwards  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Lewis  is  the  eldest:  Calvin 
S.,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Edwards  &  Lawrence,  clothiers,  married  Hannah 
Lawrence,  and  to  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Zilpah,  now  the  wife  of  Charles 


iAy(yL4 


Co  oLcAy-of^y'z/^ 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  305 

Wetzel,  of  Brooklyn;  Francis,  a  grocer  and  ship-chandler  at  Port  Richard. 
New  Jersey,  married  Elizabeth  Hogue,  and  has  four  children:  Andrew. 
Francis,  Jacob  and  Emma;  Elmer,  was  married  and  had  three  children. — 
Elmer,  Sallie  and  Mary,  the  first  named  being  in  the  wholesale  commission 
business  in  Denver,  Colorado;  and  Amos  married  Judith  Mathews,  and  has 
four  children,  Calvin,  Amos.  Lydia  and  Ella.  He  is  now  extensively  engaged 
in  the  cordage  business  in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  of  cholera,  when  pnly  thirty-four  years  of  age,  but  the  mother.  long 
surviving  him,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Dennisville  Mr.  Edwards  continued  his  educa- 
tion until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then  went  to  sea,  shipping  before  the 
mast.  Gradually,  however,  he  worked  his  way  upward  until  be  became  cap- 
tain of  a  coasting  vessel,  thus  serving  for  twenty-five  years.  He  followed  the 
sea  until  1872,  and  after  his  retirement  from  that  life,  he  devoted  his  energies 
to  farming  and  to  the  operation  of  a  steam  sawmill,  manufacturing  cedar 
lumber  at  Dennisville.  He  continued  in  that  business  until  1879,  and  was 
engaged  in  vessel  building  from  1880  until  1891,  at  Dennisville.  during 
which  time  he  constructed  a  number  of  large  vessels,  including  the  largest 
ever  built  at  that  place.  He  now  devotes  his  energies  to  farming  and  gar- 
dening, for  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  the  cereals  adapted  to  his  climate 
he  also  raises  vegetables  for  the  citj'  markets.  He  owns  where  he  resides 
two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  and  is  the  owner  of  woodland  and  cedar 
swamps  in  other  sections  of  the  country.  Mr.  Edwards  has  now  passed  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten,  but  is  still  actively  identified 
with  business  aiTairs  and  displays  the  ability  and  vigor  of  a  man  of  much 
younger  years. 

In  185 1  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Edwards  and  Miss  Abigail 
Matthews,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Matthews,  a  surveyor  and  merchant  of 
Dennisville,  who  also  handled  cord  wood  and  owned  a  number  of  sloops, 
being  a  well-to-do  citizen.  Unto  ilr.  and  ^Irs.  Edwards  have  been  born  five 
children,  namely:  Anna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Frank  Learning;  Lewis, 
who  married  Lizzie  Byer,  and  is  connected  with  the  life-saving  station  at 
Sea  Me  City;  Adolph.  who  has  been  agent  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  at  Ocean  City  for  ten  years;  Harry-,  who  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  was  lost  at  sea  August  18,  1880,  while  going  from  Philadelphia  to 
Boston  on  a  vessel  that  was  loaded  with  coal  and  was  lost  in  a  gale  ofif  Fire 
Island;  and  ^larcus,  who  died  of  appendicitis,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
vears.  He  was  educated  in  Pierce's  Business  College  and  was  regarded  as 
the  brightest  student  in  the  institution  at  the  time  he  Avas  pursuing  his 
studies  there.  He  was  particularly  intelligent  and  became  an  expert  account- 
n— T 


306  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ant.  employing  a  ninnher  of  men  uncler  him.  His  senices  were  in  great 
ilemand  tliroughont  his  section  of  the  country,  and  his  loss  was  widely  felt 
by  his  many  friends. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  Republican  and  has  long 
supported  tliat  party,  believing  that  it  embodies  the  best  principles  of  good 
government.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  of  his  party  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders.  He  belongs  to  the 
^[asonic  fraternity  and  in  his  life  has  exemplified  the  teachings  of  the  craft. — 
tlie  justice  in  business,  kindliness  and  helpfulness.  His  wonh  as  a  man  and 
a  citizen  entitle  him  to  representation  in  this  volume  and  with  pleasure  we 
present  his  record  among  those  of  the  leading  residents  of  southern  Xew 
lersev. 


.\DOX  \V.  ML'LLER. 


Adon  Wills  Muller.  a  pamiinent  citizen  and  farmer  in  Deptford  town- 
ship. Gloucester  county.  Xew  Jersey,  was  bom  in  Gloucester  city.  Camden 
county,  this  state.  December  u.  1S49.  tl'^  *o"  of  Jacob  Andrew  Muller  and 
Martha  T.  Wills.  On  his  father's  side  he  is  of  Swiss  parentage.  His  mother 
is  the  daughter  of  Adon  G.  Wills,  a  family  name  long  established  in  the  state. 
His  father  emigrated  from  Switzerland  after  receinng  a  good  education 
there,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and.  arriving  in  America,  settled  in  Gloucester. 
Xew  Jersey.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  captain  on  a  ferry-boat 
between  Gloucester  and  Philadelphia.  He  later  removed  to  Pennsyh-ania 
and  for  several  years  conducted  a  lumbering  business  in  the  Pocona  moun- 
tains. Subsequently  he  removed  to  Deptford  township.  Xew  Jersey,  where 
he  purchased  a  fann  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres,  upon  which  he 
made  numerous  improvements.  He  engaged  in  agriculture  the  balance  of 
his  life,  dying  in  Deptford,  March  3,  1S95.  His  children  were:  Eliza  W"., 
bom  in  1S40.  who  died  in  childhood:  Jacob  Andrew,  deceased:  Mary  Sykes. 
the  wife  of  Charles  Smith;  Robert  Sykes.  who  resides  near  Sea  Isle;  Adon 
Wills:  and  Caroline  C.  who  died  in  childhood. 

Adon  Wills  Muller.  after  attending  the  district  schools  of  Deptford.  con- 
tinued his  education  at  Blackwood  Academy.  Leaving  school  he  remained 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  adopting  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  has  since  con- 
tinued that  pursuit.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father  he  purchased  his  present 
farm,  and  is  ranked  among  the  solid  and  substantial  farmers  of  his  section. 

Politically  Mr.  Muller  is  a  Republican  and  is  the  chairman  of  his  township 
committee.  He  is  also  the  fish  and  game  warden  for  Gloucester  county. 
His  religious  connections  are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


COX'GRF.SSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  307 

In  April,  iSjc),  Mr.  M tiller  was  married  to  I'llizabeth,  a  dauijhter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Christiana  IllakehorouL;'!!.  Mrs.  Mullcr  died  November  10,  1S97, 
leaving;'  as  surviving  children  .Marion  Westaeott,  Anna  LaCale,  .\.  Wills, 
John  and  I,  h'rank. 


jamp:s  m.  tweed. 


James  M.  Tweed,  of  Williamslown,  New  Jersey,  is  one  of  those  indus- 
trious, enterprising-  citizens  whose  steady  application  to  the  business  in  hand 
has  plaeeil  him  amoni;-  the  leading  agriculturists  of  his  section  of  the  state. 
He  was  born  ,it  I  lurrf\ille.  Sciitcmbcr  9,  1852,  and  is  of  Irish  parentage. 
The  father.  Sanniel  Tweed,  w;is  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Fairview,  in  uS_>8.  Later,  in  1835,  he  moved  to  Millville  and 
engaged  in  lumbering  and  charcoal  burning.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Williams- 
town  and  worked  in  the  glass  factory  until  i860,  and  then  bought  the  farm 
where  his  son  now  resides.  He  accumulated  considerable  property  and  was 
a  man  of  excellent  character.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  and  trustee;  and  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1SS5,  was  deeply  felt  in  that  organization,  lie  was  miited  in  mar- 
riage with  Rose,  ;i  daughter  of  James  McMaster,  of  Ireland.  She  died  in 
1879,  being  surxixed  by  two  of  her  four  children:  James  M.  and  I^llizabeth, 
the  wife  of  William  1,.  1  la\-en,  of  Morristown,  New  Jersey. 

James  M.  'iA\  eed  received  his  early  education  in  the  country  schools  and 
his  spare  moments  were  spent  in  doing  such  chores  as  usually  fall  to  the  lot 
of  the  farmer  boy.  1  le  continued  to  work  on  the  farm  as  he  grew  older  and 
now  has  a  tract  of  ninety-tive  acres,  which  he  cultivates  and  devotes  to 
general  farming,  truck  gardening  and  grazing.  He  has  a  fine  dairy  and  one 
of  the  best  milk  routes  in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  has  built  up  a  large 
patronage  and  the  best  (piality  of  milk  is  always  furnished,  it  l)cing  his  espe- 
cial care  to  see  lli.il  the  cows  are  in  a  clean,  healthy  condition  and  the  milk 
drawn  and  put  \\\)  in  the  best  possible  shape  for  the  market. 

Air.  Tweed  was  married  January  i,  1880,  to  Miss  Priscilla,  a  daughter 
r)f  William  M.  (iodfrey,  of  lilackwood.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  of  whom  se\en  are  living.  They  arc:  Stewart  E.,  a  student  ;il  Rut- 
gers Scientilic  College;  (leorge  C.,  now  learning  mould-making  at  the 
llodine  (ilass  Works;  Ricluards  I.,  Samuel  V..  Ennna  C.,  .\nna  Rose  and 
William  (\.  Mr.  Tweed  is  a  Repulolican  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  town- 
ship connnittee  for  seven  years  and  treasurer  two  years.  He  is  also  actively 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education  and  has  served  on  the  school  board, 
making  an  able  and  efificient  member.     He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Pres- 


3o8  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

byterian  church,  is  one  of  its  elders  at  present  and  has  served  as  the  su])erin- 
tendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  the  past  sixteen  years,  doing  much  to 
build  u])  the  school  and  increase  its  membership. 


DAVID  P.  ELMER. 


David  Potter  Elmer,  a  merchant  and  dealer  in  real  estate,  was  born  in 
Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  September  21,  1816,  the  son  of  William  and  Nancy 
B.  (Potter)  Elmer.  His  education  was  received  from  the  public  schools  and 
at  the  Bridgeton  i\cademy  up  to  fifteen  years  of  age.  when  he  left  school 
and  entered  the  g^eneral  store  of  J.  B.  &  R.  B.  Potter  in  Bridgeton  as  clerk. 
He  soon  became  the  manager  of  the  store,  and  in  1837,  buying  out  the  in- 
terest of  R.  B.  Potter,  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Potter  &  Elmer.  He 
continued  as  merchant  until  1846,  when  he  retired  from  mercantile  business 
and  thereafter  devoted  himself  to  real  estate,  buying  and  selling  various 
properties,  becoming  identified  with  corporate  interests.  In  1844  he  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Cumberland  Insurance  Company,  organized  that 
year,  of  which  he  subsequently  became  president. 

Mr.  Elmer  was  a  Republican,  was  elected  a  freeholder,  was  a  prominent 
Odd  Fellow  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation,  of  which  he 
was  for  many  years  a  trustee.  In  February.  1853.  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Eliza  Nixon,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:  Martha,  who  married  Captain 
H.  K.  Bailey,  of  the  Fifth  Infanti"}-.  Company  K,  United  States  Army,  who 
participated  in  the  occupation  of  Santiago:  they  have  one  daughter,  Mar- 
garetta;  Howard  Nixon,  who  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  General  Rob- 
ert Patterson,  of  Philadelphia:  he  is  the  western  manager  of  the  New  Jersey 
Steel  and  Iron  Company  and  resides  at  Chicago.  The  thirtl  child  is  James 
Potter,  born  in  1857.  received  an  academic  education  and  is  the  assistant 
passenger  agent  for  the  St.  Paul  and  North-western  Railroad,  residing"  at 
St.  Paul.  Wisconsin. 


JESSE  C.  DAVIS. 


Jesse  Coombs  Davis,  prominent  in  business  and  public  afYairs  in  Cum- 
berland county.  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Porris  Branch,  that  county.  August 
15.  1830.  the  son  of  Joel  and  Priscilla  (Coombs)  Davis.  His  father  was  a 
veteran  of  the  war  of  1812.  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  at  Bridget.  New 
Jersey,  where  he  had  removed  late  in  life,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  309 

Of  the  twelve  children  Jesse  was  the  eleventh.  Of  these  there  are  but  four 
living. 

Mr.  Davis  was  educated  in  the  private  schools  of  Cumberland  county, 
and  subsequently  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  successfully  fol- 
lowed for  forty-five  years,  latterly  being  engaged  upon  important  contracts. 
In  1886  he  became  deputy  of  Trenton  state  prison,  continuing  as  such  for 
five  years.  Since  1891  he  has  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  commissioner 
of  deeds  and  given  his  attention  in  a  business  way  largely  to  dealings  in  real 
estate.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  has  also  ser\'ed  as  the  commissioner 
of  appeals. 

During  the  civil  war  he  served  in  Company  G,  Twenty-fourth  New  Jer- 
sey Volunteers,  enlisting  in  August,  1862.  and  was  wounded  in  the  hi])  by 
a  shell  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

In  August,  185 1,  Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Fergu- 
son. They  have  had  two  children:  Joel  L.,  who  died  young;  and  Frank, 
who  is  a  printer  by  trade. 


DR.  ELLSMER  STITES,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Ellsmer  Stites  was  born  in  Newport,  Cumberland  county,  New  Jer- 
sey, January  13,  1867,  the  son  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Bradford)  Stites.  His 
father,  Edward  Stites,  was  a  thoroughly  self-made  man,  a  native  of  New- 
port, New  Jersey,  but  never  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  an  early  education. 
What  he  lacked,  however,  in  early  school  facilities,  he  subsequently  sup- 
plied by  self-application  and  took  a  strong  position  in  the  community  as  a 
solid  and  substantial  citizen. 

Ellsmer  Stites  supplemented  his  early  educational  advantages  by  his 
medical  studies,  and  receiving  his  diploma  entered  upon  practice  and  soon 
acquired  distinction  not  only  in  general  practice  but  also  in  the  practice 
of  specialties,  upon  which  he  is  a  recognized  authority. 

He  served  as  the  president  of  the  Bridgeton  board  of  health  for  two 
years,  has  held  high  official  positions  in  connection  with  the  Cumberland 
County  Medical  Society  and  is  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society.  He 
has  also  contributed  occasional  important  articles  to  various  medical  publi- 
cations. His  'specialty  is  gynecology.  His  general  practice  covers  a  wide 
circuit.  He  is  a  member  of  Brenly  Lodge  and  Chapter,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Olivet  Commandery,  and  is  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow,  in  this  organization 
holding  his  membership  in  Bridgeport  Lodge. 


310  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

LEWIS  MITCHELL   CRESSE. 

In  the  building  of  a  nation  or  the  developing'  of  a  new  country  there  are 
names  which  form  the  foundation  and  corner-stones  that  stand  strong,  unal- 
terable and  secure.  In  the  history  of  Cape  May  county  that  of  Cresse  is  one 
upon  which  the  structure  largely  depends,  on  account  of  its  association  with 
the  early  landed  proprietors,  the  judiciary  representatives  and  the  religious 
organizations.  The  southern  portion  of  New  Jersey,  of  which  Cape  May 
county  forms  a  large  section,  is  surrounded  by  historic  waters  and  is  itself 
rich  in  traditional  lore,  which  has  been  saved  by  faithful  transmission  from 
father  to  son,  and  in  facts  recorded  by  hands  that  were  baptized  in  blood  as 
they  established  hearthstones  in  a  wilderness  of  savages  and  later  helped  to 
wage  a  warfare  that  gave  liberty  to  a  new  world.  Tradition  claims  the 
advent  of  the  name  of  Cresse  with  the  first  white  settlers  of  the  state,  and  it  is 
true  that  when  the  county  came  into  existence  by  proprietary  law  in  1692  it 
appears  upon  the  records  as  belonging  to  one  of  the  first  public  ofificials. 

The  same  year  a  company  of  whalers,  attracted  by  the  wealth  of  these 
waters,  came  from  Long  Island  and  settling  here  constituted  a  large  portion 
of  the  then  sparse  population;  and  in  this  band  the  prominent  organizers  and 
most  loyal  adherents  to  a  new  country  and  government  were  the  members 
of  this  family. 

Arthur  Cresse,  the  father  of  the  line  of  whose  descendants  we  write,  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  from  the  West  Jersey  Society,  in 
1692,  and  the  same  year  he  and  John  Townsend  became  jointly  the  first 
collectors  of  the  county,  which  position  they  held  until  1700,  when  they  were 
succeeded  by  John  Cresse  and  Jacob  Spicer. 

So  great  was  the  fertility  of  the  soil  which  had  never  Ijeen  cultivated  that 
the  raising  of  cattle  was  extensively  followed.  The  herds  roamed  together 
and  each  man's  property  was  distinguished  by  a  brand  on  the  ears.  This 
law  was  made  by  an  act  of  assembly  at  Burlington,  February  17.  1692. 
The  legal  form  of  recording  the  "ear-marks"  w'as  a  sketch  of  a  cow's  head 
with  the  peculiar  mark  of  the  owner  on  the  ears,  accompanied  by  a  written 
description.  The  first  "ear-mark"  in  the  archives  of  the  Cape  May  county 
courts  was  recorded  by  a  Cresse  on  July  13,  1692,  of  which  a  fac-simile  is 
given  on  the  opposite  page. 

A  dee])  religious  sentiment  has  dominated  the  executive  strength  of  the 
family  and  in  church  as  well  as  state  they  have  been  leaders.  When  the  first 
Baptist  services  in  1675  resulted  in  a  permanent  organization,  with  a  church 
structure,  in  1712,  at  Cape  May,  the  name  of  Arthur  Cresse  was  first  upon 
the  list  of  its  members,  as  was  that  of  Nathan  Cresse,  first  on  the  list  of  mem- 


'  iy/:' 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  311 

bers  of  tlie  first  Methodist  church  of  the  county,  which  was  founded  at 
Dennisville.  The  early  records  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church  are  lost. 
but  tradition  claims  that  the  Cresse  family  was  also  largely  interested  in  its 
organization.  The  name  of  Lewis  Cresse  continues  in  almost  unbroken 
succession  down  the  ancestral  line,  appearing  officially  as  early  as  1712. 

^^'hen  the  fiery  spirit  of  patriotism  burst  forth  in  a  document  of  May  27. 
1778.  in  which  eighty-seven  Cape  May  county  citizens  renounced  their  alle- 
giance to  King  George  and  swore  to  "bear  true  faith"  to  the  government  of 
New  Jersey,  the  names  of  Arthur,  Lewis,  Daniel,  David  and  Zebulon  Cresse 
appeared  on  the  list  of  its  signers.  Lewis  was  a  notorious  wag  and  verse- 
maker.  Daniel,  a  brother  of  Lewis  and  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  large  land-owner,  the  proprietor  of  Dias  Creek  tavern  and  a  sea  cap- 
tain. His  son  Daniel  married  Hannah  Hand  and  settled  at  Gravelly  Run, 
where  he  operated  one  of  the  largest  farms  in  that  region.  Si.x:  children  were 
born  to  them, — Philip,  Rhoda,  Ellen,  Huldah,  Daniel  and  Lewis.  Philip  was 
possessed  of  fine  inventive  genius  and  secured  a  number  of  patents  on  agri- 
cultural machinery;  he  died  in  middle  age.  Rhoda  and  Ellen  died  in  early 
womanhood.  Huldah  married  William  Hand,  of  Cape  May  Court  House, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  children:  Ludlam,  a  merchant  of  Cape  May 
Court  House;  Huldah,  who  married  Joshua  Bennett;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Israel  Woolson. 

Daniel,  the  fifth  child  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  Cresse,  was  the  father  of 
James,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Burleigh.  The  only  survivor  of  the  six  chil- 
dren is  the  youngest.  Lewis  Cresse,  Sr.,  the  father  of  Lewis  Mitchell  Cresse. 
The  father  was  born  at  Gravelly  Run  in  1824  and  was  educated  in  the  private 
schools  of  the  county.  \\'hen  a  young  man  he  spent  three  years  in  Cali- 
fornia, attracted  by  the  discovery  of  gold.  L'pon  his  return  he  married  Mary 
Ann  Hofifman,  a  teacher  in  the  \'illage  school  of  Gravelly  Run.  Mr.  Cresse 
first  engaged  in  the  milling  business  at  that  place,  but  later  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  acres  at  Townsend  Inlet  (now  Swainton),  where  he  has  since 
resided.  His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Republican  party;  but  being 
a  man  of  domestic  tastes  he  has  preferred  the  enjoyment  of  his  fireside  to 
the  cares  of  public  life.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  him:  Huldah,  the 
wife  of  Coleman  Leaming,  Jr. ;  Mary  HofYman.  the  wife  of  W.  Scott  Hand ; 
Lewis  Mitchell,  of  this  review;  and  George  Hofifman,  the  principal  of  the 
public  schools  of  Dennisville.  The  parents  of  these  children  are  now  attain- 
ing a  ripe  old  age.  They  are  people  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  command 
the  honor  and  respect  of  a  host  of  friends. 

Lewis  Mitchell  Cresse  was  born  at  Townsend  Inlet.  September  12,  1867, 
acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  village,  and 


312  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

afterward  graduated  at  the  high  school  of  Cape  May  Court  House,  in  1867, 
and  later  at  the  Quaker  school  at  Woodstown.  He  then  accepted  a  position 
as  the  principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Almonesson,  Gloucester  county, 
hut  resigned  to  complete  a  business  course  in  the  National  College  of  Com- 
merce in  Philadelphia,  graduating  at  that  institution  in  1887  and  becoming 
one  of  its  teachers  in  bookkeeping  and  accounting.  He  abandoned  the  work 
of  an  educator  to  become  identified  with  the  financial  interests  of  his  native 
county,  first  as  the  cashier  of  the  People's  Bank,  of  Sea  Isle  City,  where  he 
remained  nearly  three  years,  when  he  accepted  a  position  with  the  Union 
National  Bank,  of  Atlantic  City.  The  Cape  May  County  Times,  of  Sea 
Isle  City,  paid  him  the  following  high  tribute  when  he  resigned  his  position 
at  the  People's  Bank:  "Mr.  Cresse  has  been  with  us  about  three  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  has  not  only  gained  the  confidence  of  his  employers,  but 
also  of  the  entire  community.  He  has  filled  more  positions  of  honor  and 
trust  while  among  us  than  any  other  man  in  the  town,  and  his  loss  will  be 
keenly  felt  by  the  community  at  large." 

Three  years  later,  in  1896,  Mr.  Cresse  became  the  executive  head  of  the 
Ocean  City  office  of  the  Central  Trust  Company,  of  Camden.  Tliis  bank  was 
established  and  opened  for  business  on  the  13th  of  May,  1896.  The  business 
here  is  conducted  in  a  handsome  building,  a  brick  structure  which  was 
erected  in  the  spring  of  1897  and  is  equipped  with  a  fire  and  burglar-proof 
vault.  A  general  banking  business  is  conducted  and  success  has  attended 
the  enterprise  from  the  beginning,  a  fact  which  is  largely  attributable  to  the 
efforts  and  management  of  Mr.  Cresse.  In  this  work  he  is  assisted  by  W. 
Scott  Hand,  who  occupies  the  position  of  teller,  and  B.  C.  Marshall,  who 
is  the  bookkeeper.  Mr.  Cresse  is  also  extensively  interested  in  the  business  of 
paper-manufacturing  at  Pleasant  Mills,  New  Jersey.  The  office  of  the  Pleas- 
ant Mills  Paper  Company,  of  whicli  Mr.  Cresse  is  president,  is  at  No.  608 
Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  and  to  the  management  of  this  important 
enterprise  he  has  devoted  much  attention.  The  Citizens'  Water  Company, 
of  Ocean  City,  in  which  Mr.  Cresse  is  largely  interested,  claims  his  attention 
as  an  official  in  the  capacity  of  treasurer.  His  fine  executive  ability  in  busi- 
ness and  corporative  enterprises  has  been  so  well  recognized  that  he  has  had 
many  calls  to  public  office.  He  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education  for  the  second  term  and  is  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of 
Ocean  City. 

On  the  I2th  of  September,  1896,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Cecilia, 
a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Marion  Hislop,  of  Troy,  New  York.  They 
occupy  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles  and  enjoy  the  highest  esteem 
of  manv  friends.     Mr.  Cresse  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 


H-'      -  •      o        — " 


^    fjc; 


??' 


5i 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  313 

Workmen  and  is  popular  in  social  as  well  as  business  circles.  His  success 
in  all  that  he  has  undertaken  has  l^een  marked  and  his  methods  are  of  interest 
to  the  commercial  world.  He  has  based  his  business  principles  and  actions 
upon  strict  adherence  to  the  rules  which  govern  industry,  economy  and 
strict  unswerving  integrity.  This  enterprising  and  progressive  spirit  has 
made  him  a  typical  American  in  every  sense  of  the  word  and  he  well  de- 
serves mention  in  the  history  of  his  native  country.  Scarcely  beyond  the 
heyday  of  his  youth,  but  with  the  experience  of  mature  years,  the  past  career 
of  Mr.  Cresse  presages  a  future  that  will  honor  his  ancient  lineage  and 
brighten  the  pages  of  history  of  his  country  whose  confines  shall  extend  far 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  county  and  state. 


JOSEPH  A.  CLARK. 


Joseph  Archibald  Clark,  founder  of  the  Clark  Glass  Works,  one  of  the 
most  important  manufacturing  industries  in  the  city  of  Bridgeton,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  born  at  Centerton.  Salem  county,  this  state,  on  July  12,  1822,  a  son 
of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Newkirk)  Clark. 

Isaac  Clark,  who  also  was  a  native  of  Centerton,  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  tilling  the  soil  and  in  other  agricultural  pursuits,  and  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  practical  and  enterprising  farmers  of  Centerton.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  served  as  the  overseer  of  roads  in  that  town,  a  position 
in  which  he  proved  himself  efficient  and  trustworthy.  Of  the  children  born 
of  his  union  with  Miss  Rebecca  Newkirk  two  are  living:  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Smith;  and  Joseph  A.  Isaac  Clark  and  his  wife  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Centerton,  in  which  he  held 
various  offices,  among  them  that  of  class-leader. 

Tlieir  son,  Joseph  Archibald,  received  a  good,  practical  education;  and 
when  his  school-days  were  ended,  as  his  father  had  then  retired  from  active 
labor,  he  carried  on  the  homestead  farm  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in  Salem  county,  and 
there  his  father's  declining  years  were  passed.  In  addition  to  that  place  Mr. 
Clark  owned  a  large  amount  of  other  land,  and  was  long  engaged  in  get- 
ting out  hoop-poles  for  the  city  market,  having  probably  manufactured  as 
many  as  any-  man  in  this  state. 

After  having  successfully  engaged  in  farming  for  twenty-one  years,  in 
1867  Mr.  Clark  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  Bridgeton  to  reside.  During  the 
first  seven  years  he  continued  in  the  hoop-pole  business,  to  which  he  added 
that  of  lumber,  his  office  being  on  Laurel  street;  but  in  1874  he  sold  out  his 


314  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE  FIRST 

interests,  and  in  company  with  Mr.  Basset  and  Mr.  Shoemaker  started  in 
the  manufacture  of  glass.  For  two  years  they  were  on  \\'ater  street ;  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  their  business  had  increased  so  that  larger  quarters  were 
necessary,  and  they  removed  to  their  present  stand,  where  they  have  con- 
tinued to  do  a  very  successful  business  under  the  style  of  the  Cumberland 
Glass  Manufacturing  Company,  making  a  specialty  of  bottles  of  various 
kinds.  The  Window  Glass  Company  has  since  been  formed,  of  which  Mr. 
Clark  is  also  a  partner;  and  although  it  is  the  latest  company  of  this  descrip- 
tion that  has  been  organized  in  Bridgeton,  it  gives  employment  to  a  larger 
number  of  people  than  any  other  here. 

In  March,  1848,  Mr.  Clark  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Leper, 
of  Cumberland  county.  Two  of  their  children  are  living,  namely:  Rebecca, 
the  wife  of  C.  W.  Shoemaker;  and  Josephine  R..  who  is  at  the  parental 
home.  Their  son,  Isaac  L.,  who  lived  to  be  but  thirty-four  years  of  age, 
was  associated  with  his  father  in  the  hoop-pole  and  lumber  business,  and 
was  afterward  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  organization  and  establishment  of 
the  glass  business.  He  was  a  young  man  of  promising  business  ability  and 
an  exemplary  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  and  their  daughter  are  influential  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  On  coming  to  Bridgeton,  Mr.  Clark  pur- 
chased a  house  at  236  North  Laurel  street,  where  he  and  his  family  still 
reside,  he  having  rebuilt  the  house  and  made  various  other  substantial  im- 
provements.    He  also  owns  several  other  dwelling-houses  in  this  city. 


DR.  T.   T.  SMITH. 


T.  J.  Smith,  A.M.,  M.D.,  Sc.D.,  a  prominent  physician  of  Bridgeton, 
New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Mannington  township.  Salem  county,  this  state, 
April  21,  1841,  the  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  A.  Smith.  His  ancestor,  in 
the  fifth  generation,  Peter  Smith,  came  from  England,  one  of  whose  sons. 
Captain  William  Smith,  born  December  10,  1742,  fought  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  His  grandfather,  Washington  Smith,  born  in  Salem  county, 
June  22,  1780,  was  a  farmer  in  Lower  Alloway  township,  a  Whig  and  later 
a  Republican,  and  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  His 
father,  Peter  Smith,  was  born  in  Lower  Alloway  townshi]),  January  6,  1805, 
became  a  large  and  successful  fanner  in  ^^lannington  township,  and  at  his 
death  in  1879  owned  several  farms.  He  was  a  Republican,  a  man  of  large 
intelligence  and  wide  influence,  and  held  prominent  township  ofifices.     His 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW   JERSEY.  315 

children  were  James  W.,  Jesse  P.,  Samuel  P.,  Ephraim  C,  Dr.  T.  J.  and 
Peter  E.,  of  whom  the  first  two  and  Ephraim  are  deceased. 

Dr.  T.  J.  Smith  attended  the  Salem  Academy,  where  he  prepared  for 
Williams  College,  at  which  he  was  graduated  in  1862.  Taking  up  the  study 
of  medicine,  he  was  graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1866, 
and  in  1869  located  in  general  practice  at  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey.  Rising 
rapidly  in  his  profession,  he  soon  acquired  a  large  practice  and  a  wide 
influence  in  medical  circles.  He  is  the  medical  director  of  the  Cumberland 
County  Insane  Hospital,  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  County  Medical 
Society,  the  State  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  was  president  in  1897,  and 
is  a  fellow  of  the  American  Academy  of  Medicine.  In  1893  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Pan-American  Medical  Congress,  and  was  a  delegate  from  the  State 
Medical  Society  to  the  American  Medical  Association  at  New  York  city,  in 
1885.  He  was  also  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  holding  of  the 
American  Medical  Society  Convention  at  Atlantic  City,  January  5-8,  1900. 
He  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  various  medical  journals,  attending  physician 
at  the  Bridgeton  Hospital,  is  high  up  in  Masonry,  a  member  of  I.  O.  O.  F., 
K.  of  P.,  K.  of  the  G.  E.,  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  and  was  the 
president  of  the  South  Jersey  Institute  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  a  deacon  in  the  First  Baptist  church  and  a  member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Village  for  Epileptics. 

In  March,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Mary  G.,  a  daughter  of  Elisha  G. 
Glenn,  of  Philadelphia. 


BENJAMINE  S.  AYARS. 

Benjamine  Shepard  Ayars.  the  owner  of  a  large  canning  factory  at 
Bridgeton,  New  Jerse}',  was  born  in  Greenwich,  New  Jersey.  December  8, 
1840,  the  son  of  Rol^ert  and  Lydia  (Wood)  Ayars.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Greenwich,  and  at  Shiloh,  often  walking  four  miles  to 
school.  Leaving  school  at  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade,  following  it  as  an  occupation  imtil  1879,  and  still  does  his  own  black- 
smithing  connected  with  his  business.  From  1873  to  1880  he  commenced 
the  canning  business  in  a  small  way  at  Greenwich,  a  business  which 
amounted  in  1899  to  sales  of  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  employing 
some  three  hundred  and  fifty  hands,  in  the  two  factories.  In  1880  he 
removed  to  Bridgeton,  where  he  established  his  present  factory  on  Water 
street,  enlarging  the  plant  at  that  time  purchased,  from  one  hundred  and 
thirty-three  feet  bv  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet  to  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  feet  front  by  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  deep.     In  this  establishment. 


3i6  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

in  1899,  lie  inn  u]i  over  a  million  of  cans,  including'  peas,  currants,  straw- 
Ijerries,  huckleberries,  apples,  pears,  pumpkin,  etc., — the  factory  employing 
upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  operatives.  In  1893  Mr.  Ayars  purchased 
the  factory  of  the  Cumberland  County  Packing  &  Canning  Company  in 
Bridgeton,  where  were  packed  1,100,000  cans  in  1899.  The  business, 
although  the  laigest  in  Cumberland  county,  is  still  growing,  and  facilities 
for  output  are  constantly  being  enlarged.  Sales  are  largely  conducted 
through  commission  merchants  and  large  contracts  are  made  in  advance 
of  the  season. 

Mr.  Ayars  is  a  Republican  and  was  the  assessor  of  Greenwich  for  three 
years.  He  is  a  memljer  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Bridgeton,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  trustee  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  Company  F,  for  nine  months, 
and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and 
served  for  the  full  time  of  enlistment,  when  he  returned  to  Greenwich  and 
resumed  his  trade  of  blacksmithing. 

In  February.  1866,  he  was  married  to  Nancy  L.,  a  daughter  of  David 
Minch.  They  had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy,  his  wife  also  dying,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  By  a  second  marriage  to  Martha,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Raniell,  seven  children  were  born  to  him,  of  whom  the  first  four 
were  Howard,  Robert  E.,  Clinton  B.  and  Arthur  D. 


GEORGE  H.  CRESSE. 


George  HofTman  Cresse  is  the  youngest  son  of  Lewis  and  Mary  Ann 
(HofTman)  Cresse,  and  was  born  in  Swainton,  Cape  May  county,  December 
21,  1871.  His  ancestral  history  appears  in  connection  with  the  life  record  of 
his  brother,  L.  M.  Cresse.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town  and  in  the  Trenton  State  Normal  school,  where  he  was 
honored  by  being  made  the  president  of  his  class  and  class  poet.  He  was 
graduated  in  1890,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  student  in  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  and  in  Harvard  College,  where  he  has  taken  special  courses 
in  French,  Latin  and  trigonometry.  Since  that  time  his  life  has  been  devoted 
to  educational  work,  and  he  has  demonstrated  his  ability  as  an  educator  in 
Port  Elizabeth,  Ocean  City  and  Dennisville. 

He  is  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  of  studious  habits.  He  has  a 
special  fondness  for  the  study  of  philosophy,  and  in  the  field  of  literature  he 
has  carried  his  researches  far  beyond  those  of  the  average  graduate.  At  this 
writing  he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  examiners  of  teachers  for  Cape  May 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  31; 

county.  A  facile  wnter  of  poetical  temperament,  he  has  contributed  many 
short  poems  of  worth  to  the  local  press.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  the  edu- 
cational and  literary  development  of  his  native  county  and  has  greatly  ad- 
vanced the  standard  of  intellectuality. 


JOHX  S.  WARE. 


John  Smith  Ware  was  born  in  Eridgeton,  New  Jersey,  in  1857,  a  son 
of  Smith  Mills  and  Ann  Eliza  (Gerhardt)  Ware.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
John  S.  Ware,  was  a  native  of  Roadstown.  Cumberland  county,  a  chair- 
maker  by  trade,  and  lived  in  Bridgeton  at  his  death.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
associate  judge  at  one  time,  and  a  man  of  much  prominence,  and  both  him- 
self and  wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Smith  Mills  Ware,  a  son  of  the  preceding  and  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  in  1828,  was  educated  in 
the  pulilic  schools  of  that  place,  and  early  in  life  removed  to  Mauricetown. 
He  is  a  Democrat,  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  holds  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  church  circles,  being  a  member  of  the  Mauricetown  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  His  chiklren  are  Lizzie,  Ida.  John  S..  Emma,  and  Edith. 
The  mother  died  in  September,  1898.  aged  sixty-nine  vears. 

John  Smith  Ware  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Mauricetown, 
graduating  and  leaving  school  at  eighteen.  Thereafter  he  engaged  in  the 
oyster  business  in  Port  Norris,  buying  and  selling,  for  a  period  of  three 
years.  Later,  in  1887,  he  became  associated  with  a  bank  as  bookkeeper, 
remaining  nine  years,  up  to  1896,  when,  upon  the  organization  of  the  Cum- 
berland Trust  Company,  he  became  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Ware  is 
still  engaged  in  the  oyster  business,  and  is  largely  interested  in  planting  and 
growing  oyster  beds  in  ^^laurice  River  Cove.  He  is  a  Democrat,  a  member 
of  the  L  O.  O.  F.,  of  the  F.  &  A.  AL  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  at  Bridgeton. 

In  January,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Lorella  H.,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Sharp,  a  sea  captain,  of  Mauricetown.  They  have  two  children. — Charles 
and  John. 


J.  LENHART  RICE. 


J.  Lenhart  Rice,  of  Bridgeton.  Xew  Jersey,  is  a  partner  and  son  of 
^^'allace  C.  Rice,  in  the  Acme  Gas  Fixture  Companv,  owned  and  run  by 
himself.     He  was  born  in  Bridgeton,  August  29,  1841,  a  son  of  \\'illiam  and 


3i8  BIOGF&IPHICAL  HISTORY   OP   THE  FIRST 

XancY  Snellini;  (Jacol)s)  Rice.  His  grandfather,  Philip  Rice,  wlio  was  a 
native  of  Sweden,  emigrated  to  tliis  country  and  settled  in  Dorchester, 
New  Jerse\',  w  here  he  kept  a  hotel  for  a  consideral)le  time. 

William  Rice,  from  whom  the  son  nndonlotedly  inherited  his  business 
aptitude,  was  also  a  successful  man.  His  birth  occurred  ]\Iarch  15,  1796, 
in  Dorchester,  where  also  he  received  a  common-school  education.  His 
sciiool  (lays  ended,  he  engaged  in  tlie  calling  of  a  sailor,  and  is  alleged  to 
have  commanded  a  vessel  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Having  spent  eight 
years  in  seafaring  life,  he  established  himself  in  Bridgeton  and  Millville  as 
a  ship-builder,  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  former  place.  He  carried  on 
his  business  for  thirty-five  years,  during  which  he  built  many  large  vessels 
and  made  a  fortune.  He  then  retired  from  active  occupation,  and  died  June 
29.  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  .\  company  of  infantry,  in  w'hich 
he  had  enlisted,  was  called  out  during  the  war  of  18 12.  (3ne  of  several  ex- 
pressions of  public  esteem  for  him  was  his  election  to  the  office  of  freeholder 
of  Bridgeton.  Both  he  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Trinity  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders.  He  was  also 
an  active  worker  in  the  organization  called  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  His 
wife  w-as  a  daughter  of  Charles  Jacobs,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Death 
having  rendered  her  fatherless  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  she  was  brought  up 
in  Dorchester,  Xew  Jersey,  by  a  family  whose  members  belonged  to  the 
benevolent  Society  of  Friends.  She  bore  her  husband  ten  children,  namely: 
Charles  J.,  Thomas.  Philip,  Harriet,  William,  Elizabeth,  Anna  J.,  Roger, 
Matilda  and  J.  Lenhart.  Harriet  became  the  wife  of  E.  P.  Wilson;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Enoch  Brooks;  Anna  J.,  the  wife  of  Wallace  C.  Rodgers; 
Matilda,  the  wife  of  Joseph  ^I.  Elwell  and  subsecjuently  of  John  M.  Frazeur; 
and  William  resides  in  Bridgeton. 

J.  Lenhart  Rice  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Bridgeton.  (Jn 
lea\-ing  school  he  was  trained  in  the  ship  carpenter's  trade  of  his  father. 
When  twenty-one  years  old  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Twenty-Fourth 
Regiment,  Xew  Jersey  V^olunteer  Infantry,  for  service  in  the  civil  war.  He 
went  to  the  front  with  his  regiment,  which  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
took  ])art  in  the  l)attles  of  Frederickslnirg  and  Chancellorsville,  and  was 
honorabh'  discharged  in  1862.  The  ne.xt  year  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness. In  1877.  in  comjiany  with  David  O.  Frazeur.  he  purchased  the  lime 
business  of  John  Rogers,  which  they  succesfully  carried  on.  under  the  firm 
name  of  Frazeur  &  Rice,  up  to  June  i,  iS^gj.  In  1894  he  sold  out  to  his 
brother  the  business  started  by  him  in  1863,  and,  together  with  his  son, 
formed  the  .\cme  Gas  Fixture  Company.     Owing  to  good  management  this 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  319 

firm  has  been  most  prosperous,  and  is  now  doing  a  business  that  gives  reg- 
ular employment  to  OA-er  forty  men. 

On  Septemlier  13,  1865.  Air.  Rice  was  united  in  matrimony  with  Maria 
A.,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  D.  Frazeur.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  born 
three  children,  of  whom  one  is  deceased.  Those  living  are:  Wallace  C.  and 
Jessie  A.  Both  parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
During  Mr.  Rice's  connection  with  the  society,  a  period  of  forty-two  years, 
he  has  served  in  all  the  offices,  from  the  lowest  capacity  to  that  of  local 
preacher. 

Mr.  Rice,  who  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs,  was 
the  town  clerk  of  Bridgelon  for  a  number  of  years,  before  it  was  chartered 
as  a  city.  In  1891  he  was  elected  to  the  common  council  by  ward  No.  3,  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  served  in  that  body  until  1894.  At  one  time  he 
w^as  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  has  affiliation  with  Brearly 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Bridgeton;  with  Cumberland  Lodge,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Bridgeton;  and  with  the  A.  L.  Robeson  Post, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  The  family  occupy  the  tasteful  residence,  162 
Broad  street,  built  by  .Mr.  Rice  in  1871.  He  settled  in  Bridgeton  in  1865; 
and  liis  record  as  a  citizen,  a  man  of  business,  and  a  Christian  has  been  such 
as  to  win  the  respect  of  all  his  neighijors. 


JOHN  O.  DAVIS. 


.\  leading  representati\-e  of  the  industrial  interests  of  Salem  is  Tohn  O. 
Davis,  whose  capable  management  of  his  business  has  made  him  one  of  the 
prosperous  citizens  of  the  community.  He  was  liorn  in  Lower  Alloway 
Creek  township.  Salem  county.  July  28  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and 
Elizabeth  (Tracy)  Davis.  His  grandfather,  John  Davis,  was  a  native  of 
Sa!em  county,  and  throughout  his  active  business  career  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  here.  He  married  Margaret  Daniels,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  Their  children  were:  John  W. :  Nathan;  Job;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Oliver  Hall;  Hannah,  the  wife  of  Abel  Homan;  and 
Mary,  the  wife  of  David  Perkins.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  Daniel  Tracy,  who  resided  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  where 
he  followed  farming  throughout  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  good  business 
ability  and  unquestioned  integrity,  and  these  qualities  caused  him  to  be 
selected  for  settling  up  many  estates.  He  was  chosen  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  legislature,  and  rode  on  horseback  from  Camden  to  Trenton 
in  order  to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  general  asseml:)ly.     He  left  the  impress 


320  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

of  his  individuality  upon  the  public  life  of  Salem  county,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  the  generation  in  which  he  lived.  He  married  Sarah  Evans, 
and  they  reared  a  large  number  of  children.  His  death  occurred  when  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  John  \\'.  Davis,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Salem  county,  and  was  a  leading  agriculturist  of 
Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life.  He  took  part 
in  the  training  of  the  troops  after  the  manner  of  the  olden  times,  and  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  Whig  party.  His  death  occurred  July  i8,  1843. 
at  the  age  of  forty-four  years,  and  his  wife,  long  surviving  him,  passed  away 
February  18,  1874,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  five  children:  Daniel,  the  eldest,  married  Ruth  Garrison,  and  after  her 
death  wedded  Ruth  Ayers:  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  John  Pierpont.  a 
carriage-maker;  Sarah  married  Andrew  Mills,  a  farmer,  and  to  them  were 
Ijorn  four  children, — Isabelle,  William,  Walter  and  Winfield;  John  O.  was 
the  next  younger;   and  Richard  completes  the  family. 

John  Q.  Davis  enjoyed  such  educational  advantages  as  were  afforded 
by  the  district  schools  near  his  home,  but  put  aside  his  text-books  when  ten 
years  of  age  in  order  to  go  to  work  on  a  farm.  He  devoted  his  energies  to 
agricultural  pursuits  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then  came  to  Salem, 
where  he  learned  the  carriage-maker's  trade.  He  followed  that  business 
for  ten  years,  after  which  he  began  dealing  in  milk  and  manufacturing  ice 
cream.  He  began  business  in  1866,  on  a  small  scale,  his  factory  being  located 
on  east  Broadway.  It  was  operated  by  hand  power,  but  after  a  time  horse 
power  was  introduced,  and  subsequently  the  plant  was  equipped  with  steam 
power.  He  purchased  his  present  property  in  1880,  built  the  factory  which 
he  now  occupies,  and  equipped  it  with  the  latest  improved  machinery  for 
the  successful  conduct  of  his  business.  He  now  manufactures  ice  cream  on 
a  very  extensive  scale,  shipping  to  many  of  the  seaside  resorts.  He  employs 
fifteen  people  in  the  business  at  this  place,  and  also  has  a  station  at  Harmers- 
ville.  He  deals  extensively  in  ice,  having  two  wagons  in  use  in  delivering 
that  product,  and  his  ice-houses  are  fitted  up  with  steam  power  for  filling. 
He  has  bored  three  artesian  wells,  and  has  a  pond  of  five  acres  supplied  with 
pure  artesian  well  water,  which,  freezing  over  in  the  winter  season,  enables 
him  to  fill  his  ice-houses  with  a  high  quality  of  the  cool  product.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  ice  cream  factory  he  operates  a  creamery  and  thus  furnishes  an 
excellent  market  for  the  dairy  farmers  in  this  localitw  His  business  has 
grown  to  large  proportions  and  brings  him  a  good  income. 

In  January,  1859,  ^Ir.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jerusha 
Foster,  a  daughter  of  Jamima  Foster.  They  now  have  three  children, — 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty  years;   H.  Winters  and  Jeanette  H. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  321 

The  family  attend  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  Mr.  Davis  has  been  a  memljer 
for  forty-eight  years,  and  for  a  long  period  he  has  served  in  olilicial  positions 
in  the  church,  being  now  a  member  of  tlie  board  of  deacons.  He  has  served 
as  a  judge  of  elections,  but  has  never  sought  political  preferment,  desiring 
rather  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  He  votes  with 
the  Republican  party  at  national  elections,  but  at  local  elections,  where  no 
national  issue  is  involved,  he  casts  his  ballot  independent  of  party  ties.  He 
may  justly  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  he  has  worked  his  way  upward 
unaided,  overcoming  difificulties  and  obstacles  by  determined  purpose  and 
resolute  will.  His  life  demonstrates  that  diligence  is  the  keynote  to  success, 
and  should  serve  to  encourage  others  who,  like  himself,  have  to  start  out 
empty  handed. 


E.  MILFORD  APPLEGATE. 

Hon.  E.  ^lilford  Applegate,  the  present  mayor  of  Bridgeton,  was  born 
here,  December  22,  1857,  being  a  son  of  Maskel  W.  and  Sarah  S.  (Souder) 
Appleton.  He  represents  an  old  and  respected  family  of  South  Jersey.  His 
grandfather.  Minor  Applegate,  a  native  of  Alloway,  Salem  county,  followed 
the  trade  of  blacksmith  in  that  place,  and  died  comparatively  early  in  life. 
Maskel  W.  Applegate,  also  a  native  of  Alloway,  born  April  10,  1834, 
was  very  young  when  he  lost  his  father.  Soon  afterward  his  mother  re- 
mo\-ed  with  him  to  Roadstown,  Cumberland  county,  and  lived  there  until 
he  was  in  his  tenth  or  eleventh  year.  He  then  came  alone  to  Bridgeton, 
and  set  out  in  life  for  himself  by  learning  the  trade  of  painter.  This  calling 
he  subsequently  followed  until  1866.  when  he  abandoned  it  on  account  of 
serious  injuries  received  by  him.  Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
marble  business.  He  is  also  interested  in  several  real-estate  companies.  On 
November  21,  1856,  he  w-as  joined  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Souder,  a 
daughter  of  Phillip  Souder,  an  old  and  esteemed  resident  of  Bridgeton. 
He  is  now  the  father  of  three  children — E.  Milford,  Jennie  and  Harriet.  The 
latter  is  now  the  wife  of  Reuben  C.  Hunt,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hunt 
Brothers,  dry-goods  dealers  of  Bridgeton.  Maskel  W.  Applegate  is  an  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  having  his  membership  in  Evening  Star  Lodge,  of  Bridgeton; 
Brearly  Chapter,  of  Bridgeton,  and  Olivet  Commandery,  of  Millville,  New 
Jersey.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Central  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  in  which  he  has  officiated  as  a  steward  since  its  organization. 
The  Hon.  E.  M-ilford  Applegate  accjuired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Bridgeton.  graduating  at  the  high  school  in  the  class  of  1874. 
He  then  applied  himself  to  the  marble  business  in  the  shops  of  his  father. 

II— u 


322  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

and  by  actual  experience,  mounting  the  ladder  round  by  round,  obtained 
a  thorough  understanding  of  the  various  stages  of  that  industry.  In  all  he 
engaged  in  that  l:)usiness  nearly  twenty  years,  a  jiart  of  tlie  time  as  a  meml^er 
of  the  firm,  from  which  he  withdrew  in  1893. 

Beginning  at  the  time  he  attained  his  majority,  ]\Ir.  Applegate  has 
participated  very  active!)'  in  the  local  politics.  He  entered  the  political 
arena  as  clerk,  being  elected  from  ward  i.  Though  that  ward  was  strongly- 
Democratic  until  1892,  and  he  was  a  Republican,  he  was  elected  from  it 
to  the  office  of  city  clerk  five  times.  He  was  next  elected  city  assessor, 
which  office  he  filled  for  four  years.  In  1891  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the 
l)eace  for  a  term  of  five  years.  He  has  since  been  called  upon  to  per- 
form most  of  the  justice  trial  work  in  the  city  of  Bridgeton.  In  1894  he 
was  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  mayoralty  of  Bridgeton,  and  he  was 
elected  to  that  office,  for  a  term  of  three  years.  His  administration  has 
gi\en  general  satisfaction.  On  !\Iay  10,  1882,  Mr.  Applegate  was  united 
in  luatrimonv  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Lawrence,  a  daughter  of  George  Law- 
rence, of  Bridgeton.  Three  children  have  come  of  this  union,  namely, — 
Sara  L.,  Maskel  and  Fredrick.  Mr.  Applegate  belongs  to  the  order  of 
Masons,  being  a  member  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  of  Bridgeton,  in  which 
he  filled  several  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Knights  of  Malta.  In  religious  faith  and  sympathy  he  is  Methodist  Epis- 
copal, having  his  membership  in  the  Central  church,  of  Bridgeton.  Mr. 
Applegate  and  his  family  occupy  a  pleasant  residence  at  72  Washington 
street. 


DANIEL  P.  DORRELL. 


Daniel  P.  Dorrell,  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  AUoway,  Salem 
county,  has  been  a  lifelong  resident  here,  having  first  seen  the  light  of  day 
January  i,  1826,  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  tovwnship,  this  county.  He  is  a 
son  of  Annas  and  Rhoda  (Penn)  Dorrell,  who  were  well  known  residents  of 
this  vicinity,  as  were  several  former  generations  of  the  name.  The  family  were 
of  French  antecedents,  and  the  great-grandfather,  William  Dorrell,  lived  in  a 
brick  house  near  Alloway,  which  is  still  standing  and  is  the  property  of  Jacob 
House.  He  was  a  farmer  and  an  industrious,  hard-working  man.  One  of 
his  sons  belonged  to  the  navy  and  fought  in  the  Revolution  in  the  ship 
Hornet.  Another  son  was  John,  the  grandfather  of  Daniel  P.  Dorrell,  who 
was  ])orn  in  Alloway  Creek  township  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Lower  Allo- 
way Creek  township.  His  residence  was  in  Harmersville  and  he  also  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  spoke-getter.     He  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-one  years 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEJr   JERSEY.  323 

and  was  a  Republican  all  his  life.  He  was  twice  married,  the  first  wife  being 
the  grandmother  of  oar  subject.  Her  children  were  Annas,  Joseph,  John, 
and  Marv.  The  second  union  was  with  Judith  Bench,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child,  named  Hannah,  who  married  William  S.  Wood,  of  Cumberland 
county. 

Annas  Dorrell  was  a  self-educated  man  in  the  true  sense  of  that  word. 
He  was  a  great  reader,  a  student  of  Bible  and  history  and  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence,  who  was  well  posted  on  most  topics  of  import- 
ance. His  mind  was  a  storehouse  of  varied  and  useful  information  that  could 
only  be  secured  by  keen  observation  and  careful  and  comprehensive  reading. 
Like  his  father  he  was  a  Republican  and  took  a  leading  part  in  local  politics. 
He  resided  at  Flarmony  at  the  time  of  his  death  and  was  engaged  in  the 
butcher  business  for  a  short  time  with  his  brother,  Joseph.  The  wife  of  his 
youth  was  Rhoda  Penn,  who  bore  him  three  daughters  and  one  son:  Sarah, 
the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years:  Daniel  P.  is  our  subject:  Hannah 
married  'Squire  Ferguson,  now  retired:  and  Mary  married  Jacob  Danley, 
a  carpenter  of  Brj-n  Mawr,  Pennsylvania.  Two  other  children,  Joseph  and 
John,  were  twins  and  died  in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  he  chose  Rebecca 
Perry,  who  had  been  married  twice  previously.  Their  children  were  Rhoda, 
Rebecca,  Susan,  Joseph.  Sallie  and  an  infant,  all  of  whom  are  dead,  with  the 
exception  of  Joseph  and  Daniel  P.  The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years  and  the  father  when  in  his  forty-seventh  year. 

Daniel  P.  Dorrell  received  but  a  limited  education  from  the  text-books, 
having  the  privilege  of  attending  school  only  about  two  years.  Being  ambi- 
tious to  learn,  he  applied  himself  to  the  task  of  self-education  and  laid  up  a 
considerable  store  of  useful  knowledge,  to  which  he  adds  from  day  to  day 
and  which  is  of  more  real  value  to  him  than  any  amount  of  theoretical  edu- 
cation. His  early  life  was  spent  in  work  about  the  farm  and  few  idle  moments 
fell  to  his  share,  as  he  was  reared  in  an  atmosphere  of  thrift  and  industry. 
He  clerked  in  a  store  at  Hancock's  Bridge  for  a  short  time  and  then  returned 
to  the  farm  to  take  the  management  of  it  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
continued  as  manager  of  this  land,  which  was  in  Upper  Alloway  Creek  town- 
ship, and  thrived  in  his  business  in  all  he  undertook,  his  crops  being  planted 
and  attended  in  a  careful  manner  that  insured  a  bountiful  harvest.  He  has 
added  to  his  acreage  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  three  fanns, — 
one  in  Upper  Alloway  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  another  of  ninety, 
and  one  in  Quinton  township  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres.  He  also 
was  interested  in  ship-building  at  one  time  and  ran  a  sawmill. 

Mr.  Dorrell  was  married  November  23,  1848,  to  :\Iiss  Mary  Rebecca 
IMcIlvain,  bv  whom  he  had  eight  children.    Abbie  Keziah.  the  eldest,  married 


324  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

Clinton  Clieesman,  wlm  died  from  tlie  et^'ects  of  a  wound  received  in  tlie  civil 
war.  leaving  two  children. — Clarence  and  Harold.  Daniel  P..  who  married 
Mary  L.  Patterson  and  has  two  children. — Bertie  and  Maud — is  a  trustee  of 
the  county  almshouse  and  resides  in  Alloway,  where  he  is  a  veterinarian  and 
keeps  an  exchange  stable  and  buys  and  sells  horses.  John,  a  farmer,  marrieil 
Amanda  Wentzel  and  has  three  children, — Bertha,  Stella,  and  Elvina. 
(jeorge  W.  married  Sallie  Fox  and  has  one  child.  Charles  married  Mamie 
Trickett,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  Trickett,  a  Baptist  clergyman  of  Allo- 
way. Winifred  married  Raymond  W.  Batten,  the  postmaster  of  this  village, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Jesse.    Maunch  May  and  Robert  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Dorrell  was  a  Republican  and  represented  that  party  in  the  legisla- 
ture two  terms. — in  1872-3.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  nineteen  years  ago  and  has  held  that  office  since,  for  the  last  four  terms 
having  been  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  has  ably  discharged  his 
duties,  being  both  impartial  and  just  in  all  his  decisions,  and  has  never  had  a 
case  appealed  to  a  higher  court.  He  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  that  organization.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  several  of  the  secret  orders,  having  united  with  the  Grange, 
Red  Men  and  other  benevolent  orders,  and  is  a  man  whose  presence  adds  to 
the  stability  of  any  community. 


JOHN  G.  AVARS. 


John  G.  Ayars,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Bridgeton,  Xew  Jersey, 
was  born  in  Upper  Pittsgrove  township,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1833,  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel  (Harding)  Ayars.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  John  G.  Ayars.  came  to  Upper  Pittsgrove  township, 
where  he  was  an  extensive  farmer,  a  \\'hig  in  politics,  and  an  influential 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  children  were  Bergen, 
Susan.  John  and  Thomas,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
father.  Thomas,  born  in  Pittsgrove  township.  Salem  county,  Xew  Jersey, 
was  a  farmer  there,  an  old-line  Whig  and  later  a  Republican,  a  steward  and 
trustee  in  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church,  and  took  an  acti\e  part  in 
church,  social  and  public  altairs.  His  three  children  were  John  G.,  Lydia, 
and  Mary. 

John  G.  Ayars  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship, leaving  school  at  eighteen  years  of  age.  remained  thereafter  with  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  1857.  and  worked  a  farm  independently  up  to 
1868,  when  he  came  to  Bridgeton.  Xew  Jersey,  and  engaged  in  the  flour 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  325 

and  feed  business,  soon  acquiring  prominence  in  business  and  political  cir- 
cles. He  has  served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  fourteen  years,  was  continu- 
ously elected  constable  from  the  Third  ward  for  nineteen  years,  and  has 
served  as  the  overseer  of  the  poor  from  his  ward  for  thirtv-one  vears.  He 
is  also  a  commissioner  of  deeds,  notary  public,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  for  six  years.  He 
has  also  served  as  a  delegate  to  various  political  conventions, — county,  state 
and  congressional. 

Early  in  life  he  was  married  to  Maria  Taylor  Hod.  and  they  have  four 
children. — Martha.   Thomas.  John  and   Harry. 


JOHX  R.  SICKLER.  M.  D. 

The  late  Dr.  Sickler  was  a  representative  of  that  rare  element  in  modern 
life  which,  although  an  invaluable  part  of  it.  yet  rests  upon  a  basis  of  some- 
thing ideal  and  philosophical.  In  the  worldly  sense  he  certainlv  made  his 
mark,  becoming  a  prominent  physician  and  serving  most  creditablv  in  his 
native  state  as  one  of  the  ablest  judges  of  Gloucester  county  and  being 
recognized  as  an  able,  astute  politician  and  medical  practitioner.  When- 
ever he  came  in  contact  with  men  of  note,  not  only  was  he  valued  as  an 
equal  of  practical  strength  and  resources,  but  also  as  one  whose  integrity 
was  beyond  question.  Judge  Sickler  was  not  only  practical,  drawing  to 
himself  the  strong  minds  of  his  profession,  but  was  imbued  with  the  best 
scientific  and  philosophical  thought  of  the  day,  and  was  at  the  same  time 
a  gentleman  of  broad  humanitarian  principles.  He  came  of  a  familv  whose 
ancestr\-  could  be  traced  back  through  several  generations  to  1662,  when 
Joshua  Sickler  took  up  his  abode  at  Chew's  Landing,  in  what  was  then 
Gloucester  county,  but  is  now  a  part  of  Camden  county.  His  father, 
Christopher  Sickler,  was  born  at  Chew's  Landing  and  there  reared  six  chil- 
dren, namely:     Elizabeth,  John  R.,  Jason,  Joshua,  Rebecca  and  Mary. 

Dr.  Sickler  of  this  review  was  born  September  25,  1800,  at  Chew's  Land- 
ing, and,  determining  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  he 
completed  his  studies  by  graduation  in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  on  the 
i8th  of  March,  1829.  He  took  up  his  residence  at  Mantua,  formerly  called 
Carpenter's  Landing,  and  almost  immediately  won  prominence  as  a  success- 
ful medical  practitioner.  The  success  which  attended  his  efforts  was  but 
in  natural  sequence,  for  his  position  was  assured  as  an  able  physician,  a 
man  of  sterling  integrity  and  one  devoted  to  his  profession  and  to  the  in- 
terests and  welfare  of  those  to  \\honi  be  ministered.     He  possessed  marked 


326  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

judgment  and  discernment  in  the  diagnosing  of  diseases,  and  was  peculiarly 
successful  in  anticipating  the  issues  of  complications.  His  professional 
brethren  accorded  him  a  high  place  in  their  ranks.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  County  Medical  Society  June  i6,  1846,  was  elected  its  president  and 
in  1859  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  State  Medical  Society.  He 
represented  the  county  society  in  both  the  state  and  national  medical  so- 
cieties, and  was  very  popular  among  the  medical  fraternities,  whose  members 
he  often  entertained  at  his  hospitable  home. 

Dr.  Sickler  was  a  man  of  strong  mind  and  gave  close  and  earnest  study 
and  investigation  to  the  questions  of  the  day  aiTecting  the  public  welfare. 
He  had  the  mental  grasp  of  the  statesman,  and  in  1840  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  his  district  in  the  state  constitutional  convention,  where  he  proved 
an  active  factor  in  promoting  the  organic  law  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders  and  in  1844  was  appointed 
judge,  reappointed  in  1852.  in  1857  and  1862,  serving  altogether  for  twenty- 
three  \ears.  His  judgments  were  seldom  reversed  and  were  the  embodi- 
ments of  judicious  soundness  and  wisdom.  He  was  often  spoken  of  in 
connection  with  the  candidacy  for  governor,  and  was  well  fitted  by  native 
talent  and  acquired  ability  for  that  high  office.  Although  identified  with 
the  Democracy,  his  personal  friends  were  as  numerous  among  the  Repub- 
licans as  in  his  own  party. 

Dr.  Sickler  was  united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Thornburh,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Hannah  (Perth)  Thornburh,  whose  children  were  Eliza,  Jane, 
Margaret  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Sickler  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  She  held  member- 
ship in  the  Episcopal  church,  was  greatly  interested  in  its  work  and  was  a 
charitable  friend  to  the  poor  and  needy.  By  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  seven  children:  Kate,  wife  of  Charles  Shoemaker,  of  Mantua; 
Joseph  T. ;  John  R.,  deceased;  John  R..  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  at  Berkley, 
Gloucester  county;  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years;  Eliza,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Idy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  In  the  death 
of  Dr.  Sickler  Gloucester  county  lost  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens. 
He  was  an  honor  to  the  state  in  which  he  resided  and  he  left  a  strong 
impress  for  good  upon  New  Jersey  along  many  lines.  His  qualities  were 
such  as  commended  him  to  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  men, 
W'hile  his  splendid  abilities  commanded  their  admiration.  He  also  possessed 
those  characteristics  which  won  to  him  warm  friendships.  He  was  by 
nature  endowed  with  the  greatest  of  all  human  faculties,  integrity,  which 
wealth  cannot  purchase,  power  could  not  intimidate  or  dying  men  bequeath, 
and  which  is  stamped  upon  those  natures,  whether  born  in  a  palace  or  a 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  7,27 

manger,  the  impress  of  God's  nobility,  for  ■"an  honest  man  is  the  noblest 
work  of  God." 


DR.  sa:\iuel  dick. 


Among  the  patriotic  men  of  the  last  century  who  took  an  active  part 
in  the  troublous  times  of  our  country  was  Dr.  Samuel  Dick,  of  Salem,  Xew 
Jersey.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a 
Presbyterian  minister  who  resided  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  the  Doctor's 
father  was  John  Dick,  who  married  Isabella  Stewart,  a  Scotch  lad\'  of 
superior  mind  and  character.  It  is  supposed  that  John  Dick  and  his  wife 
came  to  America  between  the  years  1730  and  1740.  Samuel,  their  third 
child,  was  bom  on  the  14th  of  November.  1740,  at  Nottingham.  Prince 
George's  county.  Maryland.  In  1746  the  Rev.  John  Dick  was  stationed 
in  New  Castle.  Delaware,  as  a  minister  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  con- 
tinued his  pastoral  labors  in  that  vicinity  until  his  death  in  1748.  His  son 
Samuel  was  a  child  of  uncommon  promise  and  commenced  the  study  of 
the  Latin  language  when  but  five  years  of  age.  He  was  educated  by  Samuel 
Finley,  afterward  the  president  of  Princeton  College,  Governor  Thomas 
McKean,  of  Delaware,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter,  of  New  Jersey,  and 
under  their  preceptorage  laid  the  foundation  of  a  classical  knowledge  which 
few  in  our  country  have  surpassed. 

His  medical  education,  according  to  the  State  Medical  Report,  was 
"acquired  at  one  of  the  medical  schools  of  Scotland."  Dr.  Dick  served  in 
Canada  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  colonial  army  in  the  war  between  the 
English  and  French,  which  was  terminated  in  1760  by  the  conquest  of 
that  province  by  the  English,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Quebec.  In  1770  he  came  with  his  mother  to  Salem,  New  Jersey,  and  in 
that  place  practiced  his  profession  until  his  death.  On  the  5th  of  October, 
1773,  in  Philadelphia,  he  married  Sarah  Sinnickson,  a  daughter  of  Andrew 
Sinnickson,  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  prominence  in  the  county. 

In  1776  Dr.  Dick  was  a  member  of  the  provincial  congress  of  New 
Jersey,  and  was  one  of  the  committee  of  ten,  composed  of  Green.  Ogden, 
Cooper,  Sergeant,  Elmer,  Hawkes,  Covenhoven,  Symmes,  Condit  and  Dick, 
appointed  to  prepare  a  draft  of  the  constitution  of  that  state.  By  that 
congress  he  was  given  a  coiumission  as  colonel  of  the  militia,  in  the  Western 
Battalion,  of  Salem  county,  dated  June  20.  1776,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
an  active  and  zealous  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  1780  Dr.  Dick 
was  appointed  surrogate  of  Salem  county,  by  Governor  Livingston,  by 
whom  he  was  highly  esteemed  as  an  officer  and  as  a  man.     This  office  he 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE  PIRST 

held  for  twenty-two  years.  On  the  6th  of  November,  1783,  the  Doctor 
was  elected  by  the  state  of  New  Jersey  to  congress,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  law-making-  body  of  the  nation  when  the  treaty  was  ratified  by  which 
(ireat  Britain  acknowledged  the  independence  of  the  United  States.  In 
the  years  1783.  1784  and  1785,  he  was  a  member  of  the  continental  con- 
gress held  in  Annapolis,  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  respectively,  and  was 
selected,  with  others,  to  transact  important  business.  He  was  made  one 
of  the  "Grand  Committee  of  1784,"  consisting  of  Alessrs.  Jefferson,  Blanch- 
ard,  Gerry.  Howell,  Sherman,  De  Witt,  Dick,  Hand,  Stone,  Williamson 
and  Read,  to  revise  the  institution  of  the  treasury  department  and  report 
upon  such  alterations  as  they  might  think  proper  (Journal  of  Congress, 
volume  IX).  He  was  also  one  of  the  committee  elected  to  sit  during  the 
recess  of  congress  for  transacting  the  business  of  the  United  States,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Blanchard,  Dana,  Ellery,  Sherman,  De  Witt,  Dick,  Hand, 
Chase,  Hardy,  Spraight  and  Read  (Journal  of  Congress,  volume  IX).  With 
some  of  these  gentlemen  Dr.  Dick  formed  friendships  which  continued 
through  life.  He  was  from  early  manhood  intimately  acquainted  with  Dr. 
Benjamin  Rush  and  Dr.  James  Craik,  a  Scotchman  who  settled  in  Virginia, 
held  a  position  in  the  army  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  the  family 
physician  of  General  Washington.  In  1789  Dr.  Dick  was  again  nominated 
as  a  candidate  for  congress,  but  declined  to  accept  the  proffered  honor. 
The  following  letter  from  Governor  Livingston  on  the  subject  shows  the 
estimation  in  which  Dr.  Dick  was  held  by  the  distinguished  gentleman  of 
that  time: 

Elizabethtown.  January  25,  1789. 

Dear  Sir: — Be  persuaded  that  it  is  not  through  wilful  neglect  that  I 
have  not  until  now  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  7th  inst. 
I  make  it  a  rule  to  answer  every  letter  from  the  meanest  creature  in  human 
shape  as  soon  as  I  have  leisure  to  do  it;  and  I  cannot  therefore  be  supposed 
inattentive  to  those  gentlemen  of  distinction  and  gentlemen  who  are  en- 
deared to  me  by  old  acquaintance  and  the  amiableness  of  their  characters. 
But  the  conjunction  of  bodily  indisposition  and  a  greater  variety  of  public 
indispensable  business  than  I  have  for  a  considerable  time  past  met  with, 
made  it  impossible  for  me  to  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  discharging  so  agree- 
able an  ofifice  as  that  of  answering  your  letter  sooner  than  I  now  do. 

But  my  dear  sir,  I  wish  you  had  given  me  a  more  agreeable  commission 
to  execute  than  what  I  find  I  must  according  to  the  tenor  of  your  letter 
carry  into  execution.  Your  requests  it  is  true,  shall  always  with  me  from 
real  volition  carry  with  them  the  nature  of  a  command.  But  I  am  sorry  that 
your  present  one  must  "aut  volens,  aut  nolens"  be  considered  mandatory. 
For  it  seems  you  have  left  me  no  other  choice  than  the  alternative  of  eras- 
ing your  name  from  the  list  of  nominations,  or  to  write  against  it,  "Dr. 


COXGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEIV   JERSEY.  329 

Dick  declines  to  serve."  I  had  a  particular  reason  to  wish  you  to  stand  as 
a  candidate,  and  finally  appear  tO'  be  one  of  the  four  elected.  Because 
(without  compliment  I  dare  say  it)  though  we  have  had  many  in  congress 
who  in  other  respects  were  possessed  of  such  qualifications  as  men  in  that 
station  ought  to  be  endowed  with,  a  great  part  of  them  have  been  totally 
destitute  of  the  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  that  certain  "politesse"  which 
Lord  Chesterfield  calls  attention,  without  which  the  greatest  talents  in  other 
things  will  never  make  a  man  influential  in  such  assemblies.  But  if  it  must 
be  so,  that  either  you  cannot  or  will  not  go.  I  must  submit. 

Believe  me  to  be  with  great  sincerity, 

Your  most  humble  servant. 
To  Dr.  Samuel  Dick.  William  Livingston. 

Salem,  X.  J. 

In  private  life  Dr.  Dick  was  highly  respected.  He  was  a  man  of  brilliant 
talents  and  great  attainments,  fine  taste  and  ])olished  manners,  a  skillful 
surgeon  and  physician,  a  discerning  politician  and  zealous  patriot.  He  died 
in  Salem  New  Jersey,  November  16,  1812.  lea\-ing  a  widow  and  five  chil- 
dren, all  now  deceased.  His  only  descendants  now  living  are  the  children 
and  grandchildren  of  his  daughter.  Isabella  Stewart  Dick,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  1804  to  Josiah  Harrison,  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  bar.  She  left 
four  children:  Maria  and  Henrietta;  Lydia,  who  married  James  Mecum, 
and  had  six  children, — Isabella,  George,  Ellen,  James  Harrison,  Maria  and 
Charles;  and  Julia,  wife  of  Robert  C.  Johnson,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons, 
Robert  and  Henry  H.  Johnson.  The  Mecum  family  have  in  their  posses- 
sion a  very  beautiful  silverdiilted  sword  which  was  carried  by  Dr.  Dick  in  the 
colonial  as  well  as  the  Revolutionary  war.  This  sword  has  a  genuine  Andrea 
Farrara  blade,  which  could  not  have  Ijeen  made  later  than  1477  or  '80.  this 
celebrated  Toledo  sword-maker  having  been  in\ited  by  James  III,  of  Scot- 
land, to  come  to  his  country  about  that  time,  accordmg  to  "Gurthie's 
Geographical  and  Historical  Grammar,"  published  in  London  in  1797,  page 
166. 


DR.  RICHARD  M.  A.  DAVIS. 

One  of  the  younger  representatives  of  the  medical  profession  of  Salem 
county  is  Dr.  Richard  Miller  Acton  Davis,  yet  he  has  attained  a  reputation 
in  professional  circles  that  man\-  an  older  practitioner  might  well  en\'v  and 
is  now  enjoying  a  liberal  and  lucrative  patronage.  He  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Salem,  December  28,  1873,  and  is  a  son  of  David  E.  and  Esther  C. 
(Miller)  Davis.  His  father  was  a  prominent  stock  farmer  of  the  county 
and   the  owner  of  the  celebrated   Green   Hill  stock  farm   in   Mannington 


330  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

townsliip,  wlierc  lie  was  extensive!}-  engaged  in  the  raising  of  slieep  and 
cattle,  having  a  numl)er  of  imported  animals  which  kept  the  grade  of  his 
stock  very  high.  His  able  management  and  untiring  labors  brought  him 
a  large  and  profitable  business,  but  in  the  midst  of  a  successful  career  he  was 
cut  off  by  death,  when  only  thirty-three  years  of  age.  His  political  support 
was  given  the  Republican  party,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  of  the  Fenwick  Club.  He  had  three  children:  Frank,  now- 
deceased;  Elizabeth  \\'.,  the  wife  of  Elmer  H.  Smith,  a  farmer,  land-owner 
and  real-estate  dealer  of  Toano,  Virginia;  and  the  Doctor.  After  the  death  of 
the  father,  the  mother  of  this  family  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Waddington. 
Dr.  Davis  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem  and  after 
attending  the  high  school  here  was  a  student  in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  pursued  a  course  of  medicine  in  that  institution  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  June,  1896.  He  also  spent  one  year  in  the  Cooper  Hospital  and 
gained  that  practical  knowledge  and  experience  which  w'ell  fitted  him  for 
his  professional  duties.  In  his  practice  he  has  met  with  excellent  success, 
and  his  skill  and  ability  are  demonstrated  by  the  liberal  patronage  which 
the  public  accords  him.  In  addition  to  his  practice  he  is  a  valued  member 
of  the  Salem  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  is  now  serving  as  the  president. 
He  is  an  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  the  National  Guards 
of  New  Jersey.  He  belongs  to  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  to  the 
Fenwick  Club  and  to  the  Country  Club;  also  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
church.  In  his  political  faith  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  well  informed  not 
only  on  matters  of  political  importance,  but  on  all  subjects  of  general  in- 
terest, and  is  a  courteous,  social  gentleman,  very  popular  in  Salem,  where 
his  entire  life  has  been  passed. 


JAMES  J.  PETTIT. 


James  J.  Pettit,  a  venerable  and  highly  honored  citizen  of  Woodstown, 
Salem  county,  has  been  closely  identified  w'ith  the  development  of  the  agri- 
cultural resources  of  this  section  of  the  state  during  his  entire  active  life. 
His  birth  occurred  more  than  four-score  years  ago,  on  the  15th  of  January, 
1819,  on  a  farm  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck,  Salem  county.  When  he  was  but 
two  years  of  age  his  father,  Hon.  Woodnut  Pettit,  removed  with  his  family 
to  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  in  Ellisboro  tow-nship,  and  five  years  later  settled 
permanently  in  Mannington  township,  Salem  county.  He  was  a  practical, 
industrious  man,  a  stalwart  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  possessed 
unusual  qualities  of  mind  and  heart.    This  fact  was  recognized  by  his  friends 


<a-i?-^^'i-^s<? 


A-^dt^ 


Y- 


a^yr^^^  J    y^JZJd 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT   OF   XEIV  JERSEY.  331 

and  neighbors,  who,  deeming  liim  the  most  suitable  person  to  represent  them 
in  public  affairs,  elected  him  to  the  legislature,  upon  one  occasion.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  1858,  when  in  his  seventy-eighth  year.  His  wife,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  Jess. 

As  stated  above,  James  J.  Pettit  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  early  learned 
the  various  duties  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  tiller  of  the  soil,  iluch  of  his 
life  was  spent  in  Mannington  township,  where  he  owned  and  carried  on  a 
large  homestead,  meeting  with  success.  For  a  short  period — four  years, 
perhaps — he  resided  in  Salem,  but,  with  this  exception,  his  years  were  all 
passed  on  a  farm  until  he  retired  from  arduous  work,  in  1893,  feeling  that  he 
had  justly  earned  a  peaceful,  restful  old  age.  He  has  since  dwelt  in  the  pretty 
village  of  Woodstown,  where  he  has  a  host  of  sincere  friends  and  well-wish- 
ers. Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  forefathers,  he  is  an  earnest  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  doing  everything  within  his  power  to  promote 
peace,  happiness  and  Godliness  upon  the  earth. 

In  1843  the  marriage  of  J.  J.  Pettit  and  Elizabeth  Ridgeway  was  solem- 
nized. She  is  the  only  survivor  of  a  family  which  formerly  comprised  twelve 
members,  the  parents,  Isaac  and  Ter.essa  Ridgeway,  and  their  ten  children. 
]Mr.  Ridgeway,  who  was  a  respected  citizen  of  Gloucester  county,  this  state, 
died  in  1833,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  while  his  wife,  who  lived  until 
1857,  was  then  in  her  eightieth  year.  Clarkson,  the  first-born  child  of  Mr. 
and  'Sirs.  Pettit,  is  now  a  successful  farmer  of  Mannington  township.  Salem 
county.  He  first  wedded  Mary  Coleson,  by  whom  three  children  were  born, 
namely:  Henry  W.,  Carroll  Lippincott,  and  Charles  R.  For  a  second  wife 
Clarkson  Pettit  chose  Mar>'  A.  Austin,  daughter  of  William  Austin,  of  Piles 
Grove  township,  and  to  this  union  two  sons, — Austin  James  and  John  L. — 
were  born.  The  only  daughter  of  our  subject  is  Ruth,  w'ife  of  William 
Reeves,  of  Salem,  and  the  youngest  child  is  Dillwyn,  of  Boston,  \lzs- 
sachusetts;  and  he  has  one  son,  named  Clarence. 


BE^7AMIX  HARDIXG. 

Honorable  Benjamin  Harding,  one  of  the  highly  respected  pioneers  of 
Gloucester  county,  intimately  connected  with  its  early  historv',  has  left  behind 
him  the  record  of  a  busy  and  well  spent  life.  He  was  born  at  Pittsgrove, 
Xew  Jersey,  on  the  21st  of  December.  1798.  He  passed  his  early  life  at 
Pittsgrove  or  at  Hardingville.  and  soon  after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Fisler  he 
removed  to  Malaga  to  take  charge  of  the  glass  company's  store  in  that  place. 
He  later  removed  to  Glassboro,  where  he  spent  some  years  as  the  manager 


332  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP   THE   PIRST 

of  tlie  cniiii)any's  store.  From  tliere  he  removed  to  Clayton  to  take  charge 
of  tlie  large  farm  of  his  father-in-law.  who  was  then  an  old  man,  and,  as 
Mrs.  Harding  inherited  the  jjroperty,  this  was  their  iiermanent  home.  He 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  for  three  consecutive  terms  and  was  then 
elected  county  jtidge  of  Gloucester  county,  which  responsible  position  he 
held  for  many  years.  He  was  also  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and 
during  that  time  settled  up  many  estates,  his  neighbors  having  the  greatest 
confidence  in  his  good  judgment  and  sense  of  justice.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  local  affairs  and  was  always  ready  to  aid  in  the  advancement  of  a 
good  cause.  He  was  prominently  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  elder  for  long  years,  and  it  was  owing  to  his  efforts  that  the  Presby- 
terian churches  were  estal^lished  at  Clayton  and  Williamstown. 

Judge  Harding  was  married  January  .28,  1823,  to  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
Leonard  Fisler,  of  Clayton.  Mrs.  Harding  died  in  Xo\eml)er,  i8fi2.  Two 
of  their  sons  and  three  daughters  attained  maturity.  (3f  these,  Benjamin  F. 
and  Lydia  are  both  residing  at  Bridgeton. 

Judge  Harding  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Lydia  (Richmond)  Harding, 
of  Pittsgrove.  It  may  be  mentioned  here  that  an  aunt  of  Mrs.  Harding, 
Hannah  Colline,  was  the  wife  of  the  rector  of  the  old  Swedes"  church  at 
Philadelphia.  She  died  in  1793,  from  yellow  fever  contracted  while  nursing 
a  patient  during  the  epidemic.  Judge  Harding  died  A]iril  4,  1880.  at  the 
good  old  age  of  eighty-two  years. 


THOMAS  P.  COVINGTOX. 

Ambition  is  the  keynote  to  success,  and  when  worthily  directed  it  never 
fails  to  win  prosperity.  In  this  land  where  eft'ort  and  talent  are  unhampered 
by  cast  or  class,  the  man  of  energy  and  enterprise  may  steadily  work  his 
way  upward  and  gain  an  honored  position  in  commercial  circles,  becoming 
an  important  factor  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides  by  reason  of  his 
activity  in  the  affairs  which  go  to  make  up  the  round  of  our  daily  life.  Such 
is  the  historv  of  Mr.  Covington,  who  to-da\'  occupies  a  leading  position  in 
business  circles  in  Philadelphia  and  Pitman  Ciro\-e,  Gloucester  county,  Xew 
Jersey. 

His  birth  occurred  in  the  former  place,  Februar_\-  11,  1843.  His  father, 
Samuel  B.  Covington,  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  his  grandfather  was  a  native 
of  New-  Jersey.  The  former,  a  sail-maker  by  trade,  took  up  his  residence 
in  Philadelphia  in  1830.  making  his  home  there  until  his  death  in  1876. 
Sociallv  he  was  identified  with  the  Odd  Fellows  societv.     He  married  Marv 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  333 

B.  Thompson,  a  daugliter  of  Peter  Thompson,  of  Egg  Harbor,  who  was  a 
sea  captain.  Her  deatli  occurred  in  1890.  Of  tlieir  six  children,  tliree  are 
living. 

Mr.  Covington  of  tlnis  re\'iew  attended  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia 
until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  put  aside  his  text-books  and  began  col- 
lecting for  an  oyster  house  in  that  city.  ■  He  acted  as  a  collector  and  salesman 
for  fifteen  years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period,  in  1875,  began  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  the  same  line.  His  knowledge  of  the  trade  and 
the  demands  of  the  public  well  fitted  him  for  a  career  of  prosperity.  He 
has  owned  a  large  fleet  of  oyster  boats  and  does  a  wholesale  business,  sell- 
ing to  the  trade.  He  also  rents  grounds  on  Maurice  river,  where  he  has 
large  oyster  beds.  His  wholesale  house  is  located  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Water  and  Dock  streets,  Philadelphia,  and  daily  there  is  sent  out  from 
that  trade  center  a  large  amount  of  oysters,  the  sales  bringing  to  the  firm 
a  considerable  income.  The  business  is  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of 
Covington  &  Patterson,  and  in  his  business  interests  in  New  Jersey  Mr. 
Covington  is  also  associated  with  a  partner,  the  firm  being  Covington  & 
Winkler.  They  own  an  excellent  summer  home  in  Pitman  Grove,  also  have 
an  eating-house  here  and  are  conducting  a  successful  enterprise. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1885,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Co\-ington  and  Miss  Henrietta,  a  daughter  of  David  Seran,  of  Pitman  Grove. 
Socially  he  is  a  prominent  Mason,  liaving  attained  high  degrees  in  that 
order,  which  entitle  him  to  a  commission  in  the  Mystic  Shrine.  His  atten- 
tion, however,  is  principally  devoted  to  his  extensive  business  interests.  He 
is  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  keen  discernment,  unfaltering  perseverance 
and  steadfast  energv,  and  these  qualities  have  gained  for  him  very  creditable 
success.  He  commands  the  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  associates 
both  commercially  and  socially,  and  has  the  regard  of  a  large  number  of 
friends  both  in  his  native  city  and  his  adopted  state. 


WILLIAM  COX. 


William  Cox.  a  ]irnminent  farmer  of  Deptford  township,  New  Jersey, 
was  Ijorn  in  Beverly,  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey,  August  16,  1823,  a 
son  of  Edward  Cox  and  Frances,  nee  Hill.  His  father,  Edward  Cox,  was 
born  in  Burlington  county,  and  was  a  resident  of  that  county  during  his 
entire  life.  In  occu]iation  he  was  master  of  a  sailing  vessel  and  was  also 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  raised  nine  children:  Henry,  now 
deceased;    Hannah,  also  deceased;    Wright;    Adeline,  the  widow  of  Israel 


334  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

I).  Adams:  William;  Edward;  Sallie  Ann,  the  widow  of  Casper  Bideman; 
Jonathan  and  Charles,  now  deceased.     Both  parents  died  in  Camden  countw 

William  Cox  became  a  resident  of  Camden  county.  Xew  Jersey,  when 
but  a  mere  lad.  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  county.  He  was 
reared  to  farm  life,  and  has  since  followed  agricultural  pursuits  as  a  vocation. 

In  January,  1845.  he  was  married,  in  Delaware  township,  Camden  county, 
to  Margaret  Powell,  a  daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Isabella  J.  Powell.  They 
have  had  nine  children:  Susanna,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Fish;  Aden,  who 
married  \'irginia  Davis;  Joseph,  who  married  Teressa  Pierce:  Ephraim, 
who  married  Ida  \'alentine;  Mctoria,  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Bideman; 
William,  deceased;  Bethany,  who  married  Franklin  Winner;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Franklin  Crispin;   and  Stacey  C,  who  married  Nora  Robinson. 

Mr.  Cox  has  served  as  an  overseer  of  roads,  and  as  a  member  of  the  town 
council,  in  Camden  count}-.  In  political  \iews  he  is  independent.  His  relig- 
ious affiliations  are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


JONATHAN  \\\  ACTON. 

The  founder  of  the  Acton  family  in  America  was  Benjamin  Acton,  who 
came  to  this  country  from  London,  England,  in  the  ship  Kent,  landing  at 
(Jji  Salem,  New  Jersey,  on  the  23d  of  June,  1877.  He  located  in  Salem,  where 
he  purchased  sixteen  acres  of  land  of  John  Fenwick.  on  Fenwick  street,  now 
called  East  Broadway.  There  he  erected  his  home  and  carried  on  the  tan- 
ning business  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  superior 
educational  attainments  and  his  name  appears  in  prominent  connection  with 
early  political  affairs  of  the  colony.  He  was  a  surveyor,  and  as  such  aided  in 
the  improvement  and  upbuilding  of  his  section  of  the  state.  He  was  a  useful 
and  influential  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  with  another  member 
of  the  organization,  as  early  as  1682  he  prepared  a  meeting-house  in  which 
the  services  of  the  yearly  meeting  could  be  held.  When  the  town  of  Salem 
was  incorporated  he  was  made  the  first  recorder,  and  in  1705  he  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  who  laid  out  the  public  highways  from  Salem  to  the  Del- 
aware river.  He  surveyed  many  of  the  old  highways  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
was  also  extensively  engaged  in  suneying  private  lands  and  subsequently 
was  employed  by  the  heirs  of  William  Penn  to  make  the  surveys  in  the  Salem 
tenth,  while  later  he  surveyed  one  thousand  acres  of  land  on  Gravelly  Run, 
where  the  village  of  Jericho,  Pennsylvania,  now  stands.  His  wife  was  Mrs. 
Christina  Acton,  and  they  were  married  in  1688.  Their  children  were:  Eliz- 
abeth, who  was  born  in  1690  and  married  Francis  Reynolds;  Mary,  who  was 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW   JERSEY.  335 

loom  in  1692  and  became  the  wife  of  William  Willis;  Benjamin,  Jr.,  who  was 
born  in  1695  and  married  Elizabeth  Hill;  Lydia,  born  in  1697;  and  Joshua, 
born  in  1700.  In  his  old  age  Benjamin  Acton,  the  father  of  these  children, 
built  a  brick  house,  in  1727,  on  what  is  now  Broadway,  and  the  structure  is 
still  standing.  It  was  afterward  remodeled  by  his  son  Benjamin,  but  the 
original  walls  yet  remain  and  the  place  is  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  Salem. 

Benjamin  Acton,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1695,  learned  the  tanner's  trade  and 
carried  on  the  business  in  the  tan-yard  which  he  inherited  from  his  father. 
He  resided  in  a  brick  mansion  built  in  1729,  which  was  much  larger  than  the 
one  his  father  had  built  and  is  still  standing,  on  the  same  lot.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Hall,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  John,  who  was  born  in  1728, 
was  twice  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mary  Oakford;  Joseph, 
I)orn  in  1730;  Benjamin,  in  1755;  and  Samuel,  in  1738. 

John  Acton,  born  August  31,  1729,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  tanning- 
business.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  union  he  had  one  child, 
Clement.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Oakford  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  Samuel:  John,  who  loecame  a  sea  captain  and  West  India  trader: 
Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Hancock  and  left  a  large  number  of  children; 
Barbara,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ephraim  Carroll:  Susan,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Hall;  and  Joseph. 

Samuel  Acton  was  born  November  10,  1764,  and  learned  the  tanner's 
trade  of  his  father,  but  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Salem  in 
connection  with  his  half  brother,  Clement.  Later  he  retired  from  that  enter- 
prise and  purchased  a  tannery  at  Haddonfield,  Salem  county,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1801.  He  married  Sarah, 
the  youngest  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Brinton)  Hall,  of  Delaware. 
His  wife  died  in  1852.  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Their  children  were: 
Clement,  who  was  born  in  1796,  became  a  hat  manufacturer  of  Salem,  later 
was  a  fur  trader  and  afterward  engaged  in  the  lumloer  l)usiness,  operating  a 
sawmill  on  Penn  street.  He  married  Ruth  Bacon  and  after  her  death  he 
wedded  Sarah  Jones,  loy  whom  he  had  three  children.  Mary  Ann,  born  in 
1798,  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Thompson  and  had  four  children, — 
Sarah,  Rachel  and  Maria  and  Richard  B.,  twins.  Isaac  Oakford,  the  third 
of  the  family,  was  a  blacksmith,  and  by  his  industry  and  close  application  to 
business  he  accumulated  a  considerable  fortune  and  became  the  owner  of 
much  desirable  real  estate  in  Salem.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was 
an  iron  merchant  and  operated  a  foundry  on  West  Grifflth  street  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  married  Lucy  Ann,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Temperance  Bilderback,  of  ]\Ianning-ton  township,  Salem  countv.  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  three  sons, — Edward,  \\'illiam  and  Clement.    Edward 


336  BIOCR.IPJIIC.il   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

A.,  the  first  lioni  of  tlic  family  of  Isaac  Acton,  wedded  Mary,  the  daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Mary  W'oodnutt,  of  Mannington  townsliip,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children. — Walter  W.,  Isaac  Oakford  and  Jonathan  W.  Edward  A. 
Acton  was  a  volunteer  officer  in  the  civil  war,  serving  as  a  captain  in  the  Fifth 
New  Jersey  Volunteers,  was  wounded  at  Williamsburg  and  killed  on  the 
field  of  action  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  29,  1862. 

On  his  mother's  side  Mr.  Acton  can  trace  his  family  lineage  back  to  an 
early  date.  Richard  \^'oodnut,  the  earliest  member  of  the  family  by  that  sur- 
name in  the  colon}-,  came  from  England  and  settled  within  the  limits  of  the 
Salem  monthly  meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends  soon  after  John  Fenwick. 
By  his  wife  Mary  he  h.ad  four  children, — Josei^h.  Richard,  Grace  and  Sarah. 
The  two  daughters  were  ne\er  married. 

Joseph  Woodnutt,  born  seventh  month,  fifth  day,  1697,  married  Rachel 
Cravens  in  1722,  and  they  had  five  children, — Thomas.  Mary,  Hannah,  Rich- 
ard and  Joseph.  Richard,  his  son,  born  in  1700,  married  a  Miss  Walmsley 
and  hatl  three  chiklren, — Jonathan,  Henry  and  Richard.  Jonathan  married 
Sarah  Mason  and  had  two  children. — Richard  and  James  Mason.  The  latter 
married  Margaret  Carpenter,  a  daughter  of  Preston  and  Hannah  Carpenter, 
and  liad  ten  children, — Sarah,  Hannah,  Thomas,  Jonathan,  Preston,  Eliza- 
beth, William,  Margaret,  Alary  and  Martha.  Jonathan,  the  son.  married 
Mary  Goodwin  and  had  four  children. — Richard.  William.  Thomas  and 
Mary.  Mary  married  Edward  Acton  and  was  the  mother  of  our  subject  and 
Walter  W.  and  Isaac.  Mr.  Acton,  our  subject,  therefore  descends  from  the 
Wooclnutts,  Carpenters  and  Lloyds,  and  their  family  record  is  as  complete 
as  that  of  any  family  in  this  country  or  England. 

Jonathan  W.  Acton,  the  youngest  child  of  Edward  and  Mary  E.  (Wood- 
nutt) Acton,  was  born  in  Salem,  November  8,  1857,  and  was  educated  in  the 
pu])lic  schools  and  in  the  Friends'  school  at  Salem.  He  also  spent  three 
years  in  the  West  Point  Academy,  and  there  prepared  for  a  professional 
career  as  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Albert  H.  Slape,  of  Salem.  After  pass- 
ing an  examination  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as  an  attorney  in  1884.  and  as 
a  counselor  in  1887.  He  was  appointed  the  prosecutor  of  Salem  county  in 
j8go.  and  held  that  office  until  April,  1900.  In  March.  1885.  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Salem  and  was  chosen  for  the  office  at  each  succeeding  election 
up  to  and  including  the  one  held  in  1897.  During  his  last  term,  however,  he 
resigned.  Within  this  period  many  needed  reforms  and  improvements  were 
secured  and  the  city  made  rapid  and  substantial  progress  in  many  lines.  He 
has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  has  ever  taken 
an  active  interest  in  promoting  the  growth  and  insuring  the  success  of  his 
party. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  337 

On  the  19th  of  July,  1890,  Mr.  Acton  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Frances  House,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  House,  of  Alloway,  Salem  county, 
and  they  now  have  three  children:  Francis  N.,  Mary  and  John  W.  Mr. 
Acton  is  a  member  of  no  church.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends  from  the  settlement  of  the  county  onward.  They 
were  people  of  the  highest  respectability  and  worth. 


LOUIS  T.  DE  ROUSSE. 


The  well  known  postmaster  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, May  29,  1844.  His  father,  George  De  Rousse,  was  born  in  France 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo  under  Napoleon.  Not  long  after- 
ward he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  boot-crimping.  A  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  church,  his  life  was  honorable  and  upright,  and  at  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1874,  when  he  was  eighty  years  of  age,  the  community 
lost  one  of  its  valued  citizens.  He  married  Miss  Christine  Steiner,  a  native 
of  Germany,  whose  father  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  land  and  sen'^ed 
as  the  mayor  of  the  town  in  which  he  made  his  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De 
Rousse  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living. 

Louis  T.  De  Rousse  pursued  his  education  in  the  local  schools  until 
seventeen  years  of  age  and  then  began  working  in  a  lawyer's  office  of  Phila- 
delphia, at  fifty  cents  a  week.  He  was  subsequently  employed  in  the  office 
ol  the  Philadelphia  Ledger,  but  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  put 
aside  his  personal  considerations  and  offered  his  services  to  the  government, 
enlisting  in  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  Reser\'es.  When  hostilities  had  ceased 
he  entered  the  employ  of  W.  H.  Horstman  &  Sons,  of  Philadelphia,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  eight  years.  In  1874  he  became  a  resident  of  Camden 
and  was  with  Wilson  Fitzgerald,  a  flour,  feed  and  grain  merchant,  for  some 
time. 

Mr.  De  Rousse  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  In  1880 
he  was  elected  a  freeholder  from  the  first  ward  of  Camden,  and  served  one 
year.  He  was  elected  comptroller  for  a  three-year  term  and  discharged  his 
duties  faithfully.  He  founded  the  Camden  Republican  Club  and  was  its 
first  president.  In  1895  he  was  elected  to  the  New  Jersey  legislature,  where 
he  served  through  the  three  succeeding  years.  In  1896  he  was  elected 
speaker,  and  in  1897  he  was  the  Republican  leader  in  the  house.  He  has 
studied  closelv  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day  and  is  an  able  champion 
of  the  principles  of  the  party  that  has  ever  stood   for  the  protection  of 

II— v 


338  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

American  industries  and  institutions  and  which  advocates  the  adoption  of  a 
sound-money  basis  and  of  expansion  principles.  His  pubHc  course  is  one 
worthy  of  commendation,  for  he  has  ever  placed  the  country's  good  before 
personal  aggrandizement.  He  is  now  an  efficient  and  popular  postmaster 
of  Camden  and  his  administration  is  invoking  high  praise. 

Mr.  De  Rousse  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  \V.  Fitzgerald,  a  daughter  of 
Wilson  Fitzgerald,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom 
two  are  hving:  Jennie  H.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  D.  Farrar,  of  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land; and  Anna  W.,  at  home.  In  his  social  relations  Mr.  De  Rousse  is  a 
Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  an  Elk.  In  manner  he  is  genial,  courteous  and 
kindly, — qualities  which  make  him  very  popular  with  all  classes.  He  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  among  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  state,  and  inspires 
personal  friendships  of  great  strength.  His  marked  individuality  and  force 
of  character  have  gained  him  leadership  in  political  circles,  while  his  genuine 
worth  has  won  him  uniform  respect. 


TAJIKS    S.    HOWEY. 


James  S.  Howey,  the  owner  of  the  loeautiful  farm  known  as  Ivy  Side  and 
considered  one  of  the  most  desirable  country  seats  in  Gloucester  county,  was 
born  on  a  farm  on  Old  Man's  creek  in  \\''oolwich  township,  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Isabella  (Stratton)  Howey.  Robert  Howe,  who  was  of  the  same  family 
as  Lord  Howe,  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  army  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  came  to  the  United  States  prior  to  the  year  1700,  secured  a  large 
farm  in  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester  county,  which  remained  in  posses- 
sion of  a  member  of  the  Howey  family  until  1847,  and  is  now  owned  by 
William  Davis,  also  a  descendant  of  Robert  Howe.  The  place  is  known  as 
Pleasant  I\Ieadow  farm  and  thereon  occurred  the  birth  of  our  subject.  John 
Howe,  a  brother  of  Robert,  located  in  Pennsylvania,  while  William  Howe, 
another  brother,  remained  in  England.  Robert  Howe's  children  attended  a 
school  which  was  conducted  by  a  Scotchman  who  told  them  that  their  name 
should  be  spelled  Howie.  That  form  was  accordingly  adopted,  but  was 
afterward  changed  to  Howey,  although  the  original  family  Bible,  now  in 
possession  of  our  subject,  gives  the  name  without  the  final  "y." 

Robert  Howe  married  Miss  Mary  Trough,  of  New  Jersey,  and  there 
were  born  the  following  children:  EHzabeth;  Mary,  born  December  16, 
1762;  Joshua,  November  22,  1764:  Isaac,  September  8,  1766;  Robert,  No- 
vember 5,  1768;  Mary,  December  8,  1770;  and  Deborah,  January  27,  1773. 
Of  these  children  Isaac  married  Abigail  Matlack,  and  to  them  were  born  the 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  339 

following  named:  Mary  \V.,  who  was  born  February  8,  1790;  Benjamin 
M.,  who  was  born  January  18,  1792,  and  died  July  4,  1840;  Rebecca,  born 
February  12,  1794;  Abigail,  April  7,  1796;  Isaac,  February  19,  1798;  Ann, 
who  was  born  December  9,  1799,  and  married  John  Ogden,  of  Woodstown, 
New  Jersey;  Hope,  born  November  11,  1801;  Arthur,  April  i,  1804;  and 
Martha,  February  7,  1806.  After  the  death  of  the  father  of  these  children, 
the  mother,  Abigail  Howey,  married  David  Davis,  and  they  had  two  cliil- 
dren:    David  M.,  born  October  3,  1809;  and  Joseph,  March  27,  181 1. 

Benjamin  Howey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  married  Isabella,  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  James  Stratton,  and  they  had  twelve  children:  Anna  Maria,  the 
eldest,  was  born  January  i,  1818,  became  the  wife  of  Edward  Carpenter  and 
died  in  Philadelphia;  Rebecca,  born  February  i,  181 9,  married  Cooper 
Champion  and  died  in  Philadelphia,  leaving  three  children,  Charles,  Isabella 
and  Sarah;  Sarah  H.,  born  September  17,  1820,  and  Henrietta,  born  April 
17,  1822,  are  both  deceased;  Martha  D.,  born  November  22,  1823,  died  in 
childhood.  James  S.  is  the  next  of  the  family:  Benjamin  F.,  born  March 
17,  1828,  was  the  captain  of  Company  G,  Thirty-first  New  Jersey  Infantry 
during  the  ci\il  war,  subsequently  he  became  a  citizen  of  Warren  county. 
New  Jersey,  and  was  elected  its  sherifif  in  1878.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  Fourth  New  Jersey  district  in  congress,  being  the  only  Re- 
publican that  ever  held  the  office  in  Warren  county.  He  married  Martha 
Evans  and  died  February  6,  1893,  leaving  three  children:  Frances,  Mary 
Isabella,  and  Anna  C.  Abigail,  born  March  i,  1830,  died  in  infancy; 
Frances,  born  July  5,  1832,  is  also  deceased;  Charles  S.,  born  June 
8,  1835,  resides  at  Philadelphia;  Margaret  Hazleton  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  S.  Howie  and  has  a  daughter,  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of  H.  Gilling- 
ham;  Isaac,  born  February  3,  1838,  died  in  childhood;  Mary  Isabella,  born 
November  4,  1840,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  K.  Wheeler,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
has  three  children, — Samuel,  Joseph  T..  and  Henrietta. 

James  S.  Howey  acquired  his  education  in  the  academies  of  Swedesboro 
and  Bridgeton,  and  afterward  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  until  1847.  when  he  accepted  a  position  as  salesman  in  a  grocery  store 
in  Philadelphia,  remaining  there  two  years.  Subsequentlv  he  was  the  man- 
ager of  a  store  at  Mill  Hall,  Pennsylvania,  for  a  year,  and  then  returned  to 
Woolwich  township,  Gloucester  county,  where  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  for  six  years.  In  1864  he  purchased  his  present  home,  known  as 
Ivy  Side  farm,  and  successfully  operated  it  for  eleven  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Philai'elphia,  where  he  occupied  a  position  as  salesman  for  fourteen  years. 
Through  the  succeeding  six  years  he  resided  in  Merchantville,  New  Jersev, 
and  then  came  to  the  Ivv  Side  farm,  where  he  now  lives. 


340  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

Mr.  Howey  was  married  March  24,  1852,  to  Miss  Henrietta  C.  Ogdeii, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Martha  D.  (Lippincott)  Ogden.  of  the  Ivy  Side 
farm.  They  now  have  four  children:  Martha;  Harry  C,  who  is  in  the  in- 
surance business  in  Philadelphia;  Katherine  Taggart  and  Isabella  Stratton. 
Mr.  Howey  and  his  family  are  members  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  of 
Swedesboro,  in  which  he  formerly  served  as  vestryman.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  but  has  never  aspired  to  office,  content  to  cast  his  ballot 
in  support  of  Republican  measures,  without  seeking  official  reward  therefor. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  activity  and  industry  and  his  upright  career  has 
ever  gained  to  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact. 


JOSEPH  C.  MARSHALL,  M.  D. 

The  world  instinctively  pays  deference  to  the  man  whose  success  has  been 
worthily  achieved,  who  has  attained  wealth  by  honorable  business  methods, 
acquired  the  highest  reputation  in  his  chosen  calling  by  merit,  and  whose 
social  prominence  is  not  the  less  the  result  of  an  irreproachable  life  than  of 
recognized  natural  gifts.  It  is  these  elements  that  have  made  Dr.  Joseph 
Corson  Marshall  one  of  the  leading  and  representative  citizens  of  Tuckahoe 
and  Cape  May  county,  while  his  standing  in  professional  circles  is  due  to  his 
superior  skill,  knowledge  and  ability. 

The  Doctor  was  born  July  3,  1848,  in  Tuckahoe,  where  he  yet  makes  his 
home,  and  is  a  son  of  Randolph  and  Sarah  (Hughes)  Marshall.  The  ancestry 
of  the  family  can  be  traced  back  to  the  time  w-hen  Randall,  Nehemiah  and 
John  Marshall  emigrated  from  England  to  the  United  States  and  settled  on 
the  bank  of  the  Potomac  river,  where  Randall  was  married  to  Hannah  Chew. 
He  and  his  father-in-law,  Thomas  Chew,  removed  to  Good  Intent,  Xew 
Jersey,  locating  on  the  Hazzard  property  near  the  town  of  Blackwood.  He 
afterward  went  to  Lambs  Mill,  where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1780,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  left  ten  children:  Randall,  Thomas,  John, 
William,  Joseph,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Hannah  and  Charity.  Of  this 
family,  Thomas  Marshall  married  Ann  Please,  and  their  children  were  Re- 
becca. John,  Randall,  David,  William  and  Thomas. 

Randall  Marshall,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  the  Doctor,  was  born  June 
15,  1771,  and  died  September  21,  1841.  He  built  the  Port  Elizabeth  Glass 
Works  and  later  the  glass  works  at  Marshallville,  New  Jersey,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  window  glass,  being  the  pioneer  in  that  line  of  business  in  southern 
New  Jersey.    He  also  operated  saw  and  grist  mills  and  owned  large  tracts  of 


-z^-(t 


^>t>, 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  341 

land.  On  the  30th  of  July,  1847,  lie  sold  the  glass  works  and  the  sawmill  at 
Marshallville  to  Thomas  Van  Gilder,  for  seven  thousand  five  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars.  He  also  operated  and  owned  a  tannery  at  Port  Elizabeth, 
New  Jersey.  At  the  last  mentioned  place,  in  August,  1793,  he  wedded  Mary 
Reeves,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Hannah  D.  (Furnace)  Reeves.  Her  father 
was  born  June  21,  1749,  and  died  NovemI>er  2^.  1840,  while  her  mother,  who 
was  born  May  16,  1753,  died  Xovemlier  17,  1824.  They  were  married  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1772,  and  Mrs.  Reeves  was  a  member  of  the  old  and  distinguished 
Furnace  family  of  Philadelphia.  Henry  Reeves  was  of  English  lineage.  He 
Ixjught  large  tracts  of  land  near  Port  Elizabeth,  and  the  place  was  named  in 
honor  of  his  wife.  He  gave  to  the  church  the  site  upon  which  the  house  of 
worship  was  erected,  and  was  a  very  prominent  citizen  of  the  community.  Ihito 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reeves  were  born  the  following  children :  William,  born  March 
4,  1773  ;  Benjamin  F.,  born  in  August.  1774  ;  Mary,  torn  Septemljer  22.  1777, 
and  died  March  30,  1847;  Elizaljeth,  born  September  21,  1779;  Henry,  who 
was  torn  January  26,  1782.  and  died  November  5,  1813  :  Jane,  torn  September 
21,  1783:  Hannah,  torn  Octotor  21,  1785;  Abraham,  born  Februarv  27. 
1788:  Dorothy,  born  May  23,  1790,  and  died  April  17.  1837.  and  [ohn.  born 
February  27,  1794,  and  died  Octotor  22,  1805.  Of  this  family,  Marv.  the  third 
child,  tocame  the  wife  of  Randall  Marshall. 

The  children  torn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshall  were  as  follows :  Thomas 
Chew,  the  eldest,  born  Octotor  3,  1793,  was  married  May  18,  1818,  to  Ex- 
lierience  Steelman,  who  was  born  November  7,  1796.  His  death  occurred 
May  6,  1868,  and  hers  June  2,  1867.  Their  children  were  Charles;  Henry, 
who  luarried  Olive  Young;  Mary,  wife  of  William  Gandy;  Hannah,  wife  of 
John  J.  Corson;  Lydia,  wife  of  Robert  Edmunds;  Jane;  Ann;  Randall,  who 
married  Susan  Corson;  Thomas;  Frederick;  Ann,  wife  of  Rufus  Budd ; 
Eliza  Jane,  wife  of  Samuel  Steelman;  Charles;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Lewis  S. 
Williams.  Mary,  the  second  child  of  Randall  Marshall,  was  Ixjrn  September 
27,  1804,  and  died  February  24,  1876.  On  the  22d  of  July,  1823,  she  became 
the  wife  of  Ebenezer  Seely,  and  their  children  were  Jane,  wife  of  Elijah  Ire- 
land; Ephraim,  who  married  Nancy  Nordyke;  Randolph;  Etonezer  M. ; 
Charles;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Baird;  Henrietta,  wife  of  William  Burnett; 
Thomas,  who  married  Lydia  Godfrey.  Ann,  the  third  child  of  Randall  Mar- 
shall, was  torn  June  20,  1795,  was  married  July  22,  1812,  to  Frederick  Stano-er, 
and  died  February  15,  1815.  Henry,  the  fourth  child,  hn-n  IMarch  11,  1800, 
died  April  15,  1808.     Hannah  R.  was  torn  July  25,  1802. 

Randolph  Marshall,  the  second  son  of  Randall  Marshall,  and  the  father 
of  Dr.  Marshall,  was  born  at  Port  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  January  9,  181 1,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  afterward  spent  four  years  in  Miller's  druo- 


342 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   TIIF.    FIRST 


store,  on  Foiirtli  and  Walnut  streets,  Philadelpliia.  He  tlien  entered  tlie  med- 
ical department  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl\-ania,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  iS_^4.  For  fortA'-five  years  he  practiced  medicine  in  Cape  May  county. 
h'i\'ing-  a  \ery  liheral  palrnna^'e,  which  extended  over  a  radius  nf  twenty  miles. 
Durius;'  this  time  he  made  his  home  in  Marshallville.  His  l.axitv  in  im])Osing 
and  collecting  fees  and  his  generosity  to  the  genera]  public  alone  prevented  his 
accumulation  of  great  wealth.  He  held  membership  in  the  Cape  May  ('ounty 
Medical  Society,  was  a  charter  member  of  Star  Lodge,  No.  65,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
also  of  tlie  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Tuckahoe.  and  had  a  birth- 
right membership  in  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  death  occurred  in  Marshall- 
ville, February  19,  1879.  On  the  21st  of  May,  1835.  he  married  Sarah  Hughes, 
who  was  l)(>rn  Jaiuiary  7,  1816,  a  daughter  of  Fllis  and  Sarah  (  Higgins) 
Hug'hes.  Her  father  was  horn  in  1793.  and  was  a  son  of  the  celebrated  Thomas 
Hughes,  the  only  Congressman  e\'er  elected  from  Cape  May  county.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Marshall  was  born  in  179^),  and  died  October  15,  1821.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Ivandolph  Marshall  were  peoi)le  of  the  highest  respectability  and  had 
many  friends  in  the  community  in  which  they  resided.  The  Doctor's  father 
was  a  man  of  many  sterling  c|ualities,  of  marked  individuality  and  strong  intel- 
lectuality. In  his  family  he  maintained  strict  discipline,  yet  was  a  man  of  great 
kindliness  of  heart  and  nobility  of  character.  In  business  affairs  he  was  very 
exact  atid  methodical.  He  kept  a  memorandum  of  facts  iiertaining  to  his 
family  history,  wliich  has  served  as  the  basis  of  this  record. 

He  had  ti\e  children:  I<".llen.  born  .\pril  Ct,  }i>T,(K  was  married  bebruarv 
II,  i8f)2,  to  I>elfor<l  Smith,  a  sea  ca])tain,  residing  in  MarshalKille;  Sarah, 
born  Se])tember  7.  1838,  was  married  December  21,  1862,  to  Henry  .S.  Steel- 
luan,  and  they  had  three  children;  I'"ll;i,  who  was  born  Xox'emljcr  2j.  18^)4. 
and  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Divertv;  Daniel,  who  w;is  born  (  )ctol)er  30,  \H(>(>.  and 
married  Miss  May  W'heaton,  and  Jennie,  who  was  born  December  14,  i8C)(), 
and  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Sharjie.  Benjaiuin  II.,  1)orn  Sei>tember  25,  1840,  was 
married  to  Eliza  Ogden,  July  4,  i8f)r.  Their  children  are  Hattie,  born 
April  30,  1867,  married  R.  Fendall  .Siuith:  and  S.allie.  l)orn  .\ugust  10,  1871, 
and  married  Everton  Corson.  James  1...  born  January  20,  1844,  was  mar- 
ried May  28.  1873,  to  Emma  Smith,  ami  thcii-  children  are:  Burroughs,  who 
is  employed  in  a  bank  at  Ocean  City,  and  lunma.  Kllis  H.,  born  Sejitember 
18,  1845,  married  Hattie  Shoemaker,  who  died  Jainiary  30,  1874,  leaving  a 
daughter,  Sallie.  who  married  William  C.  .\bbott,  a  druggist.  By  his  sec- 
ond wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lxdia  Gaudy,  he  had  one  child, 
Tiiomas.  He  is  a  well-known  and  leading  mercliant  of  Seaville,  Cape  May 
county,  and  has  twice  represented  bis  district  in  the  state  legisaturc.  Jo- 
seph C.  is  the  sixtli  of  the  family.      Alary,  who  was  born  December  17,  1850, 


C^/Zax^ 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  343 

died  August  25,  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Randolph  married  Rae 
Steehnan,  and  is  a  practicing  physician  at  Tuckalioe.  He  is  associated  with 
our  subject  in  the  ownershi])  of  a  drug  store  and  in  tlie  practice  of  mechcine. 
Aima.  born  April  4,  1858,  married  Captain  Maurice  Godfrey,  and  is  now 
living  at  Marshallville. 

Dr.  Joseph  Marshall,  after  receiving  a  public  school  education,  entered 
Pennington  Seminar)-,  where  he  took  a  finished  classical,  preparatory  college 
course,  and  began  the  study  of  his  chosen  profession  with  his  father  at  Tuck- 
ahoe,  in  1867.  He  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1868.  an  office  student  of  the  late  Prof.  Lenox  Hodge,  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1870.  Whilst  at  the  college  he  enjoyed,  as  the  stu- 
dent of  Prof.  Hodge,  especial  privileges  at  the  Will's  Eye  Hospital  and  in  the 
study  of  obstetrics,  receiving  at  graduation  certificates  to  that  effect.  The 
following  sununer  he  opened  an  office  in  Fairton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  re- 
mained for  ten  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Tuckahoe  and  formed  a  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  Randolph,  a  connection  that  has  since  been  main- 
tained. He  enjoys  an  extensive  patronage,  and  in  handling  many  difficult 
cases  has  tlemonstrated  his  superior  skill  and  ability.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Cape  May  County  Medical  Society  and  has  served  as  its  president.  In 
1870  he  and  his  brother  established  their  drug  store,  and  in  that  undertaking- 
met  with  success,  having  built  up  a  large  trade.  He  is  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  cranberry  culture.  The  marshes  have  a  capacity  of  ten  thousand 
bushels,  giving  employment  to  uiany  laborers  and  returning  a  liberal  reve- 
nue. 

In  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a  Repid)lican  and  keeps  well  informed 
on  the  issues  of  the  day,  InU  has  never  sought  office,  preferring-  to  devote  his 
energies  to  the  demands  nf  his  ])rofessional  duties.  He  has  gained  marked 
prestige  in  the  medical  fraternity  and  is  a  man  of  strong  intellect  and  marked 
indiividuality,  whose  pleasant  and  genial  manner  makes  him  popular  with  all. 


CHRISTIAN  WOLFERTH. 

Christian -Wolferth,  a  farmer  and  commission  merchant  doing  business 
at  \\'olferth  station,  was  horn  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  March  29.  1834, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  \Yolferth,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  an<l  died  in 
1850.  The  son  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  kind  of  his 
nativity,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age,  hoping  to  better  his  financial  cdu- 


344  BIOGR.irillC.lL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

dition,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States.  He  came  to  tliis  country 
alone  and  without  capital,  and  whatever  success  he  has  achieved  is  due 
entirely  to  his  i>\vn  ellDrts.  lie  wdrked  in  I'hiladclphi:!  tliniUi^ii  the  first 
summer  and  in  the  fall  came  to  Gloucester  count}-,  wliei'c  he  was  eni])]oyed 
as  a  farm  hand  for  ten  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  purchased 
land  and  l>egan  farming'  on  his  own  account.  Me  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  three  farms,  which  is  under  a  \uv;h  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  yields  an  excellent  return  for  the  care  and  lalx>r  hestowed  u]K>n  it. 
The  places  are  well  improved  with  good  buildings  and  their  neat  and  thrifty 
api)earance  well  indicates  tlie  careful  supervision  of  tlie  owner.  In  addition 
to  the  oi^eration  of  this  land,  he  does  a  large  commission  Imsiness  in  vege- 
tables, his  sales  Ijeing'  extensive  and  bringing  tO'  him  a  good  profit.  Wolferth 
station  is  on  his  farm,  and  more  business  is  done  at  this  jxiint  than  at  any 
station  on  the  road  except  Swedesboro. 

Mr.  Wolferth  was  married  in  January,  1865,  Miss  Caroline  Grau  l>ecom- 
ing  his  wife.  She,  too,  is  a  nati\e  of  W'urtemberg,  Germany,  and  by  her 
marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  two  children, — ^John  and  Charles. 
The  sons  are  Ixjth  with  their  father.  The  elder  married  Mary  Rode,  a 
daughter  of  John  Rode,  and  they  have  a  son,  named  Charles  \\'olferth. 
John  Wolferth  is  engaged  in  farming  on  one  of  his  father's  farms,  while  the 
younger  sqn,  Charles,  is  assisting  his  father  in  the  commission  business.  In 
1900  our  subject  and  his  wife  and  their  only  grandson  made  an  extended 
visit  to  Europe,  si^ending  several  months  abroad.  They  visited  the  Paris 
exposition  and  the  old  home  of  his  boyhood  days,  Mr.  Wolferth  seeing  that 
place  for  the  first  time  in  forty-six  years.  They  also  visited  the  king  and 
(|ueen  of  Wurtemlaerg,  were  shown  all  over  the  palace  and  sat  in  the  chair 
which  was  used  by  Napoleon  1,  and  so  arranged  that  when  he  sat  down  it 
began  to  play  music.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolferth  had  a  very  pleasant  trip,  and 
when  they  returned,  almost  the  entire  community  and  relatives  gathered  to 
welcome  them  at  the  old  homestead  at  Wolferth  station,  a1x)ut  two  hundred 
guests  being  there  entertained.  Mrs.  Wolferth  has  jjeen  indeed  a  helpmeet 
to  her  husband  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat 
and  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  but  his  time  has  been  given  more 
largelv  to  his  business  afTairs.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  for  a  number  of  years  served  as  a  class-leader.  He 
now  l>elongs  to  the  German  Evangelical  church,  is  one  of  its  trustees  and 
lias  been  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  church  work.  Mr.  Wolferth  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  for,  starting 
out  in  life  empty-handed,  he  has  overcome  many  dif^culties  and  obstacles 
and  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  jx>sition  of  affluence. 


CONGR'E'SSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  345 

JOHN   J.    HITCHNER. 

John  J.  Hitchner  represents  a  class  of  our  rising  generation  who  are 
rapidly  forging  their  way  to  the  front  in  the  business  world,  both  in  com- 
mercial and  agricultural  circles.  He  is  possessed  of  sturdy,  industrious  habits 
and  a  character  which  is  above  reproach,  while  the  manner  in  which  he 
conducts  his  farm  and  the  condition  in  which  he  keeps  it  shows  that  he  is 
possessed  of  no  mean  business  ability. 

He  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Timberman)  Hitchner,  and  was 
born  March  10,  1875,  in  Alloway,  Salem  county,  New  Jersey.  Charles 
Hitchner  was  a  son  of  Johnson  Hitchner  and  both  were  natives  of  Friesburg, 
although  of  German  descent.  Charles  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing and  continued  that  industry  all  his  life,  for  eight  years  conducting  the 
cultivation  of  his  father's  land  and  in  1875  buying  the  place  now  occupied 
by  our  subject.  He  was  public-spirited  and  prominent  in  local  afifairs,  a 
member  of  the  church  and  the  incumbent  of  a  number  of  town  offices,  among 
them  that  of  freeholder,  collector,  member  of  the  school  board,  etc.  He 
was  a  trustee  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  a  director  in  the  City  National 
Bank  of  Salem  and  was  a  very  successful  man  in  his  business.  He  owned 
some  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  at  his  death,  besides  other  property. 
He  had  erected  a  canning  factory  at  Daretown  which  furnished  a  good 
market  for  the  product  of  the  surrounding  farmers  and  was  a  source  of 
income  to  its  owner  as  well. 

His  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Timberman  was^  honored  in  the  birth  of  Alar- 
garet.  Alberta  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Mickle),  John  J.  and  Geneva.  His  death 
occurred  in  Alloway,  Salem  county,  April  30,  1896,  and  was  the  occasion 
of  heartfelt  grief  among  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


LEWIS    M.    MYERS. 


Lewis  M.  Myers  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  L.  Myers,  merchants  of 
Repaupo,  and  is  the  trustworthy  postmaster  of  that  place.  He  was  born  in 
the  town  which  is  still  his  home  February  19,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  George 
B.  and  Mariah  (Parker)  Myers.  His  mother  died  in  1868,  and  his  father, 
surviving  her  many  years,  passed  away  November  25,  1890,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years.  His  grandfather  was  George  Myers,  a  son  of  George  Myers, 
Sr.,  who  came  from  Germany  to  the  New  World  and  located  in  Gloucester 
county,  New  Jersey,  where  his  descendants  have  since  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.     L.    M.  jMyers  was  an  only  son  and  had  but  one  sister,  Lizzie  P., 


346  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

who  is  now  the  wife  of  Milton  H.  Myers,  a  carriage-lniilder  of  Swedesboro, 
New  Jersey. 

The  subject  of  this  review  acquired  his  education  in  the  ])ul)Hc  scliools  of 
Repaupo,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  until  1879, 
when,  in  company  with  his  uncle,  Joseph  Myershe  engaged  in  merchandising, 
which  he  has  since  followed  with  signal  success.  They  have  a  well-stocked 
store  supplied  with  everything  demanded  by  a  general  trade,  and  a  liberal 
patronage  is  accorded  them,  liy  reason  of  their  honorable  dealing  and 
reliable  business  methods. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1885,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Myers 
and  Miss  Alice  E.  Uron,  a  daughter  of  Leonard  S.  Uron,  of  Repaupo,  and 
to  them  has  been  born  one  son,  Giles.  In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Myers 
is  connected  with  Delaware  Tribe,  No.  44, 1.  O.  R.  M.  He  is  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat and  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Repaupo  on  the  ist  of  October,  1890. 
He  has  discharged  his  duty  with  such  marked  ability  and  fidelity  that  he 
has  since  been  continued  in  the  office.  His  fellow  townsmen  know  him  as 
an  enterprising  business  man,  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  a  gentleman  of 
sterling  worth. 


EDWARD  F.  EVANS. 


Edv\ard  F.  Evans,  a  well  known  farmer  of  Williamstown,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  August  24,  1859. 
His  grandfather,  Edward  Eyans,  was  a  native  of  Wales  and  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1827.  He  was  prospered  in  business  and  became  a  large 
land-holder.  His  son  John  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  first  married  to  Harriet,  a  daughter  of  Sampson  Pearson,  of  Green 
Tree.  Four  children  were  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  two  are  living: 
Harry,  a  resident  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  and  Edward  F.  The  mother 
died  May  31,  1898. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  country  schools  of  his  native 
place,  securing  a  good  common-school  education,  and  then  turned  his  at- 
tention to  farming.  In  1883  he  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides 
and  which  he  had  previously  rented.  It  comprises  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  acres  of  excellent  land  and  shows  good  management  in  its  cultivation. 
In  connection  with  general  farming  Mr.  Evans  is  engaged  in  the  buying  and 
selling  of  horses  and  also  deals  in  farm  implements  and  machiner}'.  He 
has  generally  been  successful  in  his  business  operations  and  is  now  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  handsome  income.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,   affiliated  with  Williamstown  Lodge,   No.    166,  has  been  a  school 


lM^:g:iL-M^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  347 

trustee  for  many  years  and  is  liberal  in  his  support  of  the  church  and  philan- 
thropic institutions. 

The  marriage  of  E.  F.  Evans  to  Tamzon  N.  a  daughter  of  George  Hurff. 
took  place  November  15,  1896,  and  three  children — Clifford  F.,  Helen  L., 
and  Alice  F. — have  been  born  to  them. 


LEWIS    S.  CARLL. 


Lewis  S.  Carll,  who  was  for  many  years  the  leading  business  man  of 
Hancock's  Bridge,  where  he  now  resides  in  retirement,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek,  October  20,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Ephraim 
and  Mary  A.  (Smith)  Carll.  His  father  also  was  a  native  of  Salem  county, 
followed  fanning  all  his  life,  was  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  legislature  in 
1845  and  the  judge  of  Salem  county  from  1848  to  1868,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  his  wife  dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Lewis  S.  Carll  followed  farming  till  about  thirty  years  old  and  then  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  at  Hancock's  Bridge,  carrying  on  a  very 
extensive  business  for  twenty-five  years.  He  operated  largely  in  seeds  and 
grain,  owning  an  elevator  with  a  capacity  of  twenty  thousand  bushels.  He 
was  the  postmaster  from  1861  to  1893,  a  position  held  by  his  son,  Harry  C. 
M.  Carll,  since  1897. 

Mr.  Carll  was  married  in  June,  1865.  to  ]Miss  Athalinda  Baker.  They 
have  four  children, — Luke  F.,  Lucius  H.,  Harry  C.  1\L  and  Miss  Lucy  S. 
Mr.   Carll  and  familv  are  memljers  of  the  Societv  of  Friends. 


LOUIS   N.   SHREVE. 


Louis  N.  Shreve,  whose  business  is  that  of  undertaker  at  Glassboi'o, 
New  Jersey,  is  a  native  of  Barnsboro,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey.  He 
was  born  July  27,  1861.  His  parents  were  Mahlon  and  Harriet  (Chew) 
Shreve.  Our  subject's  father  was  born  near  Bordentown,  New  Jersey,  and 
his  father  was  of  an  old  family  of  that  section.  Mahlon  was  a  blacksmith  and 
followed  that  trade  nearly  all  of  his  life;  he  is  now  seventy-one  years  of  age. 
His  wife,  who  was  of  an  old  and  very  prominent  family,  died  in  1896.  Of  their 
eight  children  the  following  six  are  living:  William,  now  of  Clayton;  Na- 
thaniel, of  Clayton;  Nelson,  of  Berlin,  Camden  county;  Amos,  of  Clayton; 
Louis  N.;  and  Lida,  the  wife  of  Walter  Staulcup,  of  Clayton. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  education  by  attending  the  local  schools 


348  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

and  select  schools.  He  followed  farm  life  for  a  number  of  years  and  when 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  went  to  Clarksboro  to  learn  the  undertaker's 
trade,  together  with  the  art  of  embalming.  He  served  there  for  seven  years, 
and  in  1888  began  business  at  Glassboro  on  his  own  account.  Just  prior 
to  engaging  in  business  he  attended  the  United  States  School  of  Embalming 
at  New  York.  He  received  a  diploma,  which  shows  that  he  is  an  expert  in 
this  line.     For  three  years  he  was  the  coroner  of  this  county. 

Being  a  firm  believer  in  the  brotherhood  of  man,  he  is  identified  with 
the  orders  of  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Junior  and  Senior  and  Indepen- 
dent orders  of  Mechanics  and  is  the  high  priest  in  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle.  In  his  church  connection  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  June  3,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Rennie,  a  daughter  of  Richard 
Skinner.    Two  children  bless  this  union, — Bland  and  Bessie. 

It  almost  goes  without  saying  that  our  subject  is  a  busy  man  of  affairs, 
yet  he  finds  time  to  attend  to  the  duties  which  he  owes  to  his  family  and  the 
various  civic  societies  to  which  he  be!on"S. 


ALEXANDER    R.    LUDLAM. 

Captain  A.  R.  Ludlam  is  now  living  a  retired  life  near  Dennis,  where  he 
owns  a  comfortable  and  attractive  residence  situated  on  a  tract  of  eleven 
acres  of  land.  For  many  years  he  sailed  the  seas  and  for  some  time  was  the 
owner  of  a  vessel  used  in  securing  pine  and  other  lumber  in  the  south,  Init 
now  has  put  aside  all  business  cares  and  is  spending  the  evening  of  his  days 
in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  a  well  earned  rest. 

The  Captain  was  born  in  Goshen,  Cape  May  county,  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1827.  his  parents  being  James  and  Jane  (Ritchie)  Ludlam.  Among  his  an- 
cestors the  first  of  whom  we  have  any  extended  record  is  Joseph  Ludlam, 
who  was  a  son  of  Anthony  Ludlam,  and  who  married  and  reared  a  family 
of  three  children.  Jeremiah,  the  eldest,  died  childless.  Joseph,  who  fol- 
lowed farming  at  North  Dennis,  had  three  children:  Phoebe;  Abigail,  who 
married  Seth  Hand;  and  Thomas,  whose  children  were  Mrs.  John  Evans; 
and  Thomas,  who  had  four  children,- — Smith,  Sarah,  Thomas  and  Jacob. 
Henry,  the  youngest  child  of  Joseph  Ludlam,  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  served  his  country  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  after  the  cessation 
of  hostilities  was  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty 
years.  His  children  were  Abigail,  Daniel,  Henry,  Joseph.  Sarah  Lewis, 
James  and  Smith. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  349 

James  Ludlam,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  in  Dennisville,  Cape 
]\Iay  county,  in  1784,  and  died  in  1867.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  but 
in  early  life  followed  the  sea.  His  political  support  was  given  the  \\'hig 
party,  and  during  the  war  of  1812  he  did  patrol  duty  on  shore.  He  married 
Jane  Ritchie,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children:  James, 
Alexander,  Mary,  Ann,  Jane  and  Eliza.  The  father  died  in  March,  185 1,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years;  and  the  mother  died  about  1870,  in  the  eighty- 
seventh  year  of  her  age. 

Captain  Ludlam  attended  school  in  Goshen  and  when  sixteen  years  of 
age  shipped  before  the  mast.  His  fidelity  won  him  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
mate,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was  the  captain  of  a  vessel.  He  was 
shipwrecked  in  a  storm  at  Cape  Charles  on  Washington's  birthday,  1863,  at 
which  time  he  was  in  command  of  a  vessel  loaded  with  two  hundred  and  sixty 
tons  of  coal,  bound  for  Fortress  Monroe,  but  all  was  lost.  He  traded  with 
Fort  Royal  and  Fortress  Monroe  and  brought  the  first  pine  from  Savannah 
to  Philadelphia  after  the  blockade  was  declared, — a  very  hazardous  under- 
taking. His  voyage  was  from  Galveston,  Texas,  tO'  Philadelphia,  in  1867. 
It  required  forty  days  for  him  to  make  the  trip  and  he  then  resolved  that 
he  would  never  go  to  sea  again, — a  resolution  to  which  he  has  strictly 
adhered.  He  owned  a  half  interest  in  a  vessel  and  was  engaged  in  the  pine 
and  lumber  trade  until  1885,  in  which  year  he  retired  to  private  life.  He 
also  owns  a  farm  at  Goshen,  New  Jersey,  together  with  other  valuable  prop- 
erty. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  185 1,  Mr.  Ludlam  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary,  a  daughter  of  Edward  Price,  and  they  now  have  four  children.  Jane 
is  the  wife  of  Oscar  A.  Fow,  who  is  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  meat 
business  in  Philadelphia,  and  they  have  three  children:  Elva  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Robert  L.  Saunders,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  one  child,  Minerva  H.; 
Clarence  B.,  who  married  Linda  Fairchild  and  has  a  daughter,  Lillie  May; 
and  Lilly.  Edward  died  in  childhood.  Henry,  a  graduate  of  the  high  school 
at  Hackettstown  and  Shoemaker's  School  of  Oratory,  married  Alice  Pyle,  a 
daughter  of  General  Pyle,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Helen.  Alexander, 
who  was  lost  at  sea,  had  married  a  Miss  Foster  and  had  one  child,  Ethel. 

In  his  political  views  the  Captain  is  a  Republican.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  usefulness  and  honor.  He  has  been  true  to  his  duty  to  his  family,  to  his 
neighbor  and  to  his  country,  and  now  in  his  declining  years  he  merits  and 
receives  the  veneration  and  respect  which  should  ever  be  accorded  old  age. 
He  has  passed  the  seventieth  milestone  on  life's  journey,  yet  seems  much 
younger  and  still  takes  a  keen  interest  in  affairs  of  local  and  national  im- 
portance. 


350  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

THOMAS  COLE  ALLEN. 

There  is  but  one  chief  ruler  of  a  nation,  be  he  king,  emperor  or  jiresirlent. 
But  comparatively  few  can  gain  the  highest  position  in  military  circles  or 
along  artistic  lines;  but  the  field  of  business  afifords  unlimited  opportunities, 
and  therein  a  man  may  gain  a  leading  position  in  his  special  line  and  win 
success  by  his  own  unaided  efforts.  This  T.  C.  Allen  has  done,  and  to-day 
he  is  engaged  m  the  wholesale  poultry-shipping  business,  making  his  head- 
.  quarters  at  Glassboro. 

He  was  born  in  Hurft'ville,  Gloucester  county,  on  the  19th  of  September, 
1848,  and  is  of  English  lineage,  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Allen,  having  come 
from  the  "merrie  isle"  to  the  New  World.  His  son,  Isaac  T.  Allen,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Woodstown,  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  car- 
penter and  millwright  by  trade,  following  those  occupations  throughout 
his  business  career.  He  resided  for  many  years  in  Hurf^ville,  and  died  on 
the  i2th  of  August,  1897.  He  was  long  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  work,  serving  as  steward 
and  trustee.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Bilks,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Bilks,  also 
a  resident  of  Hurffville,  and  her  death  occurred  in  1864.  By  the  marriage 
of  this  worthy  couple  six  children  were  born,  of  whom  three  are  still  living: 
Thomas  Cole  Allen,  of  this  review;  Frank,  who  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Hurffville;  and  Abbie,  the  wife  of  E.  T.  Leap,  who  is  living  in  Glass- 
boro township. 

T.  C.  Allen  was  early  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm,  for  as  soon  as 
old  enough  he  began  work  in  the  fields  and  aided  in  their  cultivation 
until  the  harvests  were  gathered  in  the  autumn.  He  then  entered  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighborhood,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  about 
three  months  in  each  year.  With  the  coming  of  spring  it  again  became  his 
duty  to  take  his  place  behind  the  plow.  In  his  early  manhood  he  assumed 
control  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  cultivated  until  1872,  when  he  entered 
upon  his  present  line  of  business.  He  began  buying  poultry  and  shipping  it 
to  the  city,  and  now  covers  a  section  of  country  extending  twenty-live  miles 
in  each  direction.  He  employs  three  men  to  assist  him  in  making  purchases 
and  is  now  carrying  on  an  extensive  business.  In  1898  he  shipped  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  tons  of  poultry,  valued  at  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and 
sells  to  the  New  York,  Boston  and  Philadelphia  markets.  His  well  directed 
efforts  have  brought  to  him  a  very  gratifying  success,  and  in  addition  to  his 
dealing  in  poultry  he  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Glassboro. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1872,  Mr.  Allen  married  ]\Iiss  Emma  Zimmer- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  351 

man,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Zimmerman,  of  Glassboro,  and  they  now  have 
a  daughter,  whose  name  is  Elsie  ^l.  They  also  lost  one  child.  Theirs  is  a 
beautiful  home,  noted  for  its  hospitality,  and  their  worth  is  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  their  friends  are  numbered  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. In  his  political  views  IMr.  Allen  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  for 
twelve  years  he  has  served  as  township  committeeman.  He  is  also  a  steward 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  contributes  liberally  to  the  support  of 
the  church  and  has  been  an  active  factor  in  all  branches  of  its  work.  Socially 
he  is  a  very  prominent  Mason,  having  attained  the  th'irty-second  degree  of 
the  Scottish  rite.  He  is  the  treasurer  of  the  blue  lodge,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  order  of  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  the  Sunday-school  he  is  serving  as 
assistant-superintendent  and  is  most  regular  in  his  attendance  on  church  and 
Sunday-school.  He  cheerfully  gives  his  support  to  all  measures  calculated 
to  uplift  and  benefit  humanity  and  to  promote  the  welfare  and  progress  of 
his  community.  When  Mr.  Allen  left  home  he  had  only  five  dollars  in  his 
pocket,  but  he  possessed  an  honest  and  a  resolute  purpose  and  unfaltering 
energy  and  resolved  that  he  would  win  success,  if  it  could  be  done  through 
straightforward,  honorable  dealing.  His  labors  have  been  diligently  prose- 
cuted and  his  close  application  to  business  has  enabled  him  to  realize  his 
hopes,  his  beautiful  home  being  an  indication  of  the  success  which  he  has 
achieved. 


GEORGE    HIGGINS. 


George  Higgins,  a  young  but  successful  merchant  of  Glassboro,  New  Jer- 
sey, was  born  in  that  village,  on  November  7,  1871,  the  son  of  Joseph 
Higgins,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  whose  personal  history  appears  near  the 
close  of  this  sketch.  George  attended  school  in  boyhood,  but  when  old 
enough  entered  the  store  of  his  father,  who  is  now  deceased.  George  now 
carries  on  the  business  for  his  mother  and  sisters.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education,  taking  much  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  schools,  which 
institution  he  highly  prizes.  Aside  from  his  many  business  cares,  he  finds 
time  to  do  his  part  tO'  maintain  the  following  lodges  with  which  he  is  affil- 
iated: Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle, 
of  which  he  is  a  past  chief;  and  the  Daughters  of  Liberty,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee.    January  9,  1897,  he  was  married. 

Our  subject's  father,  Joseph  Higgins,  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Higgins,  Sr. 
Joseph,  the  first  named,  was  reared  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  and  became 
a  wheelwright.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Glassboro  and  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing.   He  died  March  8,  1899.     In  his  political  views  he  was  a  strong  believer 


352  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

in  Demorratic  ideas.  He  was  the  postmaster  three  terms,  a  township  com- 
mitteeman, and  freeholder  for  ten  years.  He  was  a  Christian  gentleman  and 
prominent  in  the  Methodist  church.  At  one  time  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
assembly.  He  married  Avalinda  Lowden,  the  daughter  of  George  Lowden, 
of  Riverside,  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey.  She  is  now  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living  at 
this  time:  W.  R.,  of  New  York;  Frank,  at  home;  Samuel  L.,  of  Glassboro; 
Marion  P.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  J.  Seddon.  of  Glassboro;  Avalinda,  at  home; 
and  our  subject,  George  Higgins. 

Our  subject's  father  was  an  active  man  in  whatever  he  undertook.  He 
was  a  true  citizen;  a  faithful  friend  to  all  who  sought  to  do  the  right;  was 
ever  ready  to  do  his  part,  politically;  and  he  held  many  of  the  important 
places  of  trust  and  honor  in  the  communities  in  which  he  lived  and  labored. 
For  over  forty  years  he  was  an  active  Methodist.  He  imparted  much  of  his 
true  manliness  to  our  subject,  who  as  a  business  man  is  certain  to  take  front 
rank.  In  these  times,  to  be  in  a  legitimate  business  and  have  the  good  will 
of  a  rich  and  prosperous  trading  community,  is  to  be  in  a  fortunate  position. 


CLAYTON  B.  TICK. 


Clayton  B.  Tice  was  born  in  W'illiamstown,  New  Jersey,  November  19. 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  H.  Tice,  who  Avas  a  "native  of  Camden, 
Gloucester  county.  His  father,  John  Tice,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution 
and  was  a  son  of  Cornelius  Tice,  whose  ancestors  came  from  Germany. 
John  Tice  moved  to  Williamstown  at  a  very  early  day  and  became  possessed 
of  a  great  deal  of  land  in  this  vicinity.  Richard  H.  Tice  was  a  prominent 
politician  and  took  a  leading  part  in  township  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  much  credit  is  due  him  for  the 
assistance  he  gave  toward  the  building  of  the  edifice  for  which  he  donated 
the  ground.  He  was  a  progressive  farmer  who  took  pride  in  his  work. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah,  a  daughter  of  John  Ware  of  Sicklertown, 
and  ten  children  were  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  survive  their  parents, 
viz.:  Clayton  B.;  Richard;  Charles  F.,  both  of  Avhom  reside  in  this  vicinity; 
and  Hannah,  the  w-ife  of  Walter  R.  Thomas,  of  Philadelphia.  The  father 
died  in  1864  and  the  mother  eleven  years  later. 

Clayton  B.  Tice  attended  the  public  schools  in  his  youth  and  later  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  has  a  fine  piece  of  land,  consisting  of  thirty-five 
acres,  which  is  kept  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  manufacture  of  glass  of  ^^'illiamstowll,  associated  with 


^y^<^.  /V>-1  /^^  ^-<^ 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  353 

William  C.  Nicholson,  Jacob  De  Hart  and  others,  in  1835.  The  panic  of 
1836  crippled  their  operations  and  Mr.  Tice  returned  to  his  farming.  He 
has  always  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  their  campaigns.  He  has  served  as  judge  of  election  a  number  of 
times  and  from  i860  was  freeholder  four  years  in  Camden  county.  Coming 
to  this  county  he  held,  the  same  ofifice  from  1869  for  nine  consecutive  years, 
and  was  township  committeeman  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  elected 
assessor  in  1893  and  is  still  an  incumbent  of  that  ofifice.  He  was  a  commis- 
sioner of  deeds  from  1859  to  1865,  and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  the  success  of  his  party. 

He  chose  as  his  partner  through  the  vicissitudes  of  life,  Miss  Catherine 
Eldridge,  a  daughter  of  J.  D.  Eldridge  of  this  village.  Ten  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.:  Millard  F.,  of  Philadel- 
phia; R.  Howell,  now  the  principal  of  the  school  at  Merchantville,  New 
Jersey;  Nelson,  of  Philadelphia;  Mabel,  the  wife  of  Dunlevy  Loughlin,  of 
Williamstown;   Amy,  now  teaching  at  Janvier;   and  Clayton,  at  home. 

Mr.  Tice  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views  and  is  a  man  of  exceedingly 
bright  intellect,  who  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  of  all  topics  of  importance. 
He  is  honorable  and  upright  to  a  fault  and  is  universally  esteemed. 


M.   JONES   LUFFBARY,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Luffbary,  one  of  the  successful  medical  practitioners  of  Glassboro, 
New  Jersey,  was  born  in  the  town  in  which  he  now  resides,  July  25.  1862. 
His  father,  Samuel  Luffbary.  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  a  glass-blower.  He  has  the  honor  of  being  the  superintendent  of  the 
Methodist  Sunday-school  and  class-leader  of  the  Methodist  class  at  Glassboro 
for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  celebrity  in  another  matter,  that  of 
having  instituted  the  Masonic  lodge,  at  Glassboro,  as  well  as  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' lodge.  He  married  Eliza  Becket,  daughter  of  William  Becket,  of 
Cumberland  county.  Samuel  Luffbary  is  now  sixty-five  years  of  age,  and  his 
good  wife  three  years  younger.  Of  their  six  children  only  two  survive: 
Daisy,  the  wife  of  George  Randall,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  our 
subject. 

After  having  attended  the  public  schools,  our  subject  graduated  at  Jef- 
ferson Medical  College,  in  1884,  with  the  rightfully  earned  degree  of  M.  D. 
He  at  once  began  to  follow  his  favorite  profession,  at  Glassboro,  and  has 
remained  there  ever  since. 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

Having  the  natural  endowments  of  a  successful  physician  and  being-  well 
schooled  in  professional  studies  in  one  of  the  leading  medical  colleges  of  the 
land,  Dr.  Luffhary  has  built  up  a  very  extensive  practice. 

Dr.  Lufifbary  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  the  Red  Men,  the  Junior 
Order  of  American  Mechanics  and  the  Independent  Order  of  American  Me- 
chanics, and  has  been  through  all  of  the  chairs  of  these  orders.  In  1881  he 
,  married  Lindia,  a  daughter  of  Brazilla  Abbott,  of  New  Jersey.  To  this 
esteemed  couple  have  been  born  four  children :  Roscoe,  Wilber,  Daisy  and 
Florence.  With  his  bright  and  interesting  family,  the  Doctor  has  the  good 
will  and  esteem  of  all  within  the  scope  of  their  acquaintance. 


JOSEPH   M.   GREEN. 

Among  the  well-to-do  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Williamstown,  Glou- 
cester county,  New  Jersey,  will  be  found  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  October  6,  1849,  and  dates  his 
ancestry  in  this  country  back  to  1600,  at  which  time  members  of  the  family 
settled  in  the  place  of  his  nativity.  His  father,  Chester  Green,  was  a  son  of 
Jacob  Green  and  followed  the  trade  of  shoemaking.  He  married  Hannah  A. 
Madera,  of  a  well  known  family  of  Swedesboro,  and  three  children  were  born 
to  them:  Joseph  M.,  Edward  F.,  who  lives  at  Atlantic  City;  and  Anna,  the 
wife  of  William  Treadwell,  a  resident  of  Williamstown. 

Mr.  Green  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  in  1879  purchased  the  fami  of  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  on 
which  he  now  resides.  Here  he  carries  on  general  farming,  in  which  he  is 
very  successful,  and  in  addition  does  a  large  business  in  farming  machinery, 
windmills,  etc.  He  is  a  very  active,  enterprising  man  and  with  characteristic 
energy,  and  thrift  inherited  in  part  from  his  forefathers,  who  were  noted 
people  in  their  own  land,  has  made  for  himself  a  name  and  a  place  in  his 
community.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  while  not  an  aspirant 
for  office  he  works  for  the  success  of  his  party,  believing  it  to  be  in  harmony 
with  the  principles  which  underlie  the  best  form  of  go\-ernmcnt  that  llie  sun 
shines  on. 

Mr.  Green  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katurah,  a  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher Knisel,  of  Hardingville,  Gloucester  county,  May  6,  1871.  Of  this 
union  eight  children  have  been  born:  Sarah  F.  (Mrs.  George  Galbraith), 
Hannah  M.  (Mrs.  Charles  Young),  Carrie  V.  (Mrs.  Frank  Giberson),  Mar- 
garetta  N.  (deceased),  William  J.,  Mattie  K.,  Anna  G.  and  Lcroy  C. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  355 

SAMUEL    L.    SERAN. 

This  well  known  farmer  and  old  settler  of  Aura,  Gloucester  county,  was 
born  at  that  place  September  16,  1838.  His  father,  Samuel  Seran,  also  a 
native  of  Aura,  was  a  son  of  David  Seran  and  a  descendant  of  a  family  who 
emigrated  from  Germany  and  settled  at  Swedesboro  at  an  early  day.  Samuel 
enlisted  for  the  war  of  1812  and  was  engaged  in  active  service.  About  1825 
he  removed  to  the  farm  which  his  son  now  occupies  and  which  was  willed  to 
him  by  David  Seran,  and  there  died  in  1870.  His  wife  was  Eunice  Langley, 
a  daughter  of  Silas  Langley,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  five  children,  of 
whom  Samuel  L.,  our  subject,  is  the  only  survivor.     She  died  in  1872. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life  on  the  farm.  As 
a  boy  he  attended  the  district  school  and  later  assisted  his  father  in  harvesting 
the  crops,  looking  after  the  stock  and  the  numberless  duties  which  fall  to 
the  lot  of  a  farmer's  lad.  \\'hen  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  gladly  offered 
his  services  to  sustain  the  government,  and  on  September  14,  1862,  enlisted 
at  Woodbun,'  in  the  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Infantry.  He  took  part  in  a  num- 
ber of  hard-fought  battles  and  was  wounded  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Aura  and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  on  the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred  acres.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  belief  and  is  loyal  to  his  principles.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
clerk  to  the  school  board  for  six  years  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause 
of  education. 

Mr.  Seran  was  married  to  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Clark,  of  Frank- 
lin, and  their  family  comprises  five  children:  William  D.,  of  Vineland; 
May  E.,  the  wife  of  H.  E.  Essler,  residing  at  Clayton;  Maud;  Edna;  and 
Samuel  Langlev  Seran,  who  bears  his  father's  name. 


SAMUEL   L.   HIGGIXS. 

Samuel  L.  Higgins,  of  Glassboro,  New  Jersey,  whose  business  is  that 
of  a  liveryman,  is  a  native  of  this  place,  and  was  born  June  8.  1859.  His 
father,  the  well  known  late  Joseph  Higgins,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, settled  here  in  1855,  and  was  in  business  here  forty-four  years.  He  was 
born  September  20,  1823,  and  died  March  8,  1899.  He  belonged  to  the  Meth- 
odist church  and  was  connected  with  the  K.  of  P.  and  Odd  Fellows'  orders. 
A  more  extended  sketch  of  his  life  will  be  found  appended  to  that  of  his  son, 
George  Higgins,  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

S.  L.  Higgins,  after  attending  the  common  schools  of  his  section,  went 


356  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OP   THP  FIRST 

to  the  Kennet  Square  Academy.  After  his  school  days,  he  came  home  and 
learned  the  watch-maker's  trade,  and  followed  the  jewelry  business  for 
eighteen  years  at  Camden,  Philadelphia  and  Glassboro.  In  1893  he  em- 
barked in  the  livery  business.  He  does  the  chief  livery  l)usincss  of  the  town, 
and  is  noted  for  his  fair  treatment  and  fine  turn-outs. 

August  25,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Achsah,  the  daughter  of 
John  W.  Thomas,  of  Sewell,  New  Jersey.  One  child  blesses  their  home, 
named  Sarah. 

The  Higgins  family  are  well  and  favorably  known  in  this  part  of  New 
Jersey,  by  reason  of  the  father's  long  business  career,  as  well  as  the  promi- 
nent part  he  always  took  in  public  matters. 


J.   ELLIS   PAULIN. 

J.  Ellis  Paulin,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  magistrate  and  notary  pulilic  of 
Glassboro,  New  Jersey,  will  form  the  subject  of  this  notice.  He  was  born  in 
the  above  named  place,  August  26,  1853.  When  he  attained  the  proper  age 
he  attended  the  common  schools  during  the  winter  season,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer worked  on  the  farm,  thus  developing  the  muscles  as  well  as  the  brain. 
From  the  time  he  was  twenty-one  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  he 
farmed  "on  shares."  One  year  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  the  butcher  busi- 
ness, and  for  ten  years  he  was  the  road  supervisor. 

Politically  Mr.  Paulin  is  a  Republican.  In  1894  he  was  elected  as  the 
justice  of  the  peace  in  his  township,  and  in  the  spring  of  1899  was  re-elected 
for  a  term  of  five  years.  In  1895  he  was  appointed  as  a  magistrate.  He 
also  served  three  years  as  coroner,  and  had  more  cases  before  him  than  any 
one  before  his  time  in  office  or  since  his  term  expired.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  O.  U.  A.  M.;  has  been  the  financier  of  the  lodge,  and  secretary  for  nine 
years.  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has  been  the  master  of  records  for  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  In  lodge  and  political  matters  he  is  unusually 
active. 

The  date  of  his  first  marriage  was  1879,  when  he  was  wedded  to  Ella 
Chard,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Chard,  of  Millville.  This  lady 
died  in  1885,  leaving  three  children:  Annie  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Leisse, 
of  Philadelphia;  Willard  B.  and  Edith  B.,  both  at  home.  For  his  second 
companion  our  subject  married,  in  1895,  Adina  E.  Turner,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  E.  Turner,  of  Harrisonville. 

Concerning  our  subject's  ancestry,  it  may  be  said  that  his  father  was 
Joseph  T.  Paulin,  born  in  Woodstown,  New  Jersey,  and  his  father,  our  sub- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  357 

ject's  grandfather,  was  a  native  of  the  same  locality.  His  name  was  David 
Paulin,  and  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  Joseph  T.  Paulin  learned 
the  butcher's  trade,  and  moved  to  Glassboro  about  1847,  running-  the  busi- 
ness for  five  years,  after  which  he  farmed.  In  1853  he  was  elected  sheriff, 
serving  three  years,  with  acceptability.  He  died  in  1886.  In  his  religious 
faith  he  was  a  "Friend."  He  married  Zillah  Batten,  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  Batten,  of  Swedesboro.  The  good  wife  died  in  1891.  Of 
their  six  children  only  three  survive,  our  subject  being  the  eldest.  The 
other  two  are  named  David  and  \\'illiam  S.  David  lives  in  Glassboro  and 
William  S.  in  Philadel])hia,  where  he  is  engaged  in  manufacturing. 


CHARLES    B.    GRIER. 


W'oodstown,  New  Jersey,  has  alwavs  been  fortunate  in  the  possession  of 
numerous  citizens  of  prominence  who  were  self-made  men  in  the  best  sense 
of  that  often  abused  term.  Among  such  in  the  present  generation  none  is 
more  prominent  than  Charles  B.  Grier.  one  of  the  town's  leading  merchants 
and  business  men,  whose  career  has  been  most  creditable  and  whose  achieve- 
ments have  been  won  honestly  and  Ijy  that  earnest  endeavor  that  is  almost 
certain  to  bring  success. 

Charles  B.  Grier  was  born  November  i,  1867,  at  Deerfield,  Cumberland 
county.  New  Jersey,  a  son  of  George  B.  and  Sarah  A.  (Wallace)  Grier.  His 
parents  are  both  living,  and  George  B.  Grier  is  a  prominent  general  mer- 
chant at  Woodstown.  George  B.  Grier  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  Grier,  who  was 
long  a  resident  of  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  and  who  died  there  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  During  his  early  life  Jonathan  Grier  was  a  contractor 
and  builder,  in  which  lines  he  acquired  a  creditable  reputation  in  Philadel- 
phia, but  late  in  life  he  retired  to  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  where  he  be- 
came a  leader  among  the  successful  farmers.  George  B.  Grier  was  born  in 
Mannington,  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  and  until  1876  was  a  farmer  well 
and  widely  known  in  Cumberland  county,  where  he  located  early  in  life.  His 
wife,  Sarah  A.  Wallace,  was  a  daughter  of  Allen  Wallace,  a  native  and  lifelong 
resident  of  Piles  Grove  township,  who  died  there,  aged  sixty-eight  years, 
leaving  an  enviable  record  as  a  successful  farmer  and  high-minded,  progres- 
sive citizen. 

Charles  B.  Grier  gained  a  thorough  high-school  education,  and  in  1883, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  began  to  assist  his  father  in  his  then  well  estab- 
lished mercantile  business,  in  which  he  was  employed  for  twelve  years,  until 
1895.     Under  his  father's  careful  and  practical  instruction  he  acquired  an 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

intimate  knowledge  of  tlie  local  trade  and  its  demands,  which  was  of  great 
benefit  to  him  in  the  establishment  and  upbuilding  of  his  own  later  enter- 
prise. In  1895  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George  Boone  and  opened  a 
clothing  and  furnishing-goods  store.  The  partnership  existed  until  May  11, 
1898,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Mr.  Grier  continued  the 
business  and  removed  it  to  its  present  quarters  on  Main  street,  where  he 
has  built  up  a  large  and  successful  trade  and  has  a  growing  patronage,  which 
extends  into  all  the  rich  country  tributary  to  Woodstown. 

In  every  relation  Mr.  Grier  has  proven  himself  a  public-spirited  citizen 
who  has  the  best  interests  of  Woodstown  at  heart  and  is  willing  to  work  and 
to  contribute  liberally  of  his  means  to  the  enhancement  of  the  general  good. 
He  is  not  a  politician  in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  the  term,  but,  Ijelieving 
that  politics  is  business  and  business  is  politics,  he  has  pronounced  views 
upon  all  questions  of  public  import  and  exerts  an  influence  whicii  is  always 
felt  for  the  local  and  general  interests  of  the  great  political  party  with  which 
he  affiliates.  He  is  identified  with  Woodbine  Lodge.  No.  158,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  well  known  as  a  devoted  member  of  that  order. 


WILLIAM   P.   BUCK. 


William  P.  Buck,  one  of  the  most  important  business  factors,  and  a 
successful  undertaker,  at  Williamstown,  New  Jersey,  is  a  native  of  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  born  December  21.  1849.  His  family  his- 
tory is  closely  interwoven  with  many  of  the  early-day,  important  events 
of  this  country.  Our  subject's  father,  John  Buck,  was  a  native  of  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  which  subdivision  of  the  Keystone  state  was  named 
in  honor  of  his  family.  William  Buck,  the  grandfather,  was  born  in  the 
same  location  and  it  was  his  father,  our  subject's  great-grandfather,  who 
came  from  Bucks  county,  England,  to  America  with  William  Penn,  the 
celebrated  Quaker,  colonist  and  statesman.  John  Buck  was  a  manufacturer 
of  shoes  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  birthright  member  of 
the  Friends'  Society.  He  was  hastened  from  the  scenes  of  life  by  that  dread 
disease,  smallpox,  in  185 1.  Mary  Ann.  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  Bleyler,  of  England,  became  his  wife,  by  whom  she  became  the 
mother  of  two  children, — -Louis  and  William  P.,— and  died  in  1863. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  had  a  fair  common-school  education  and  at  an 
early  date  in  his  career  began  to  cultivate  the  soil.  He  first  came  to  Will- 
iamstown in  1866  and  his  farm  life  extended  to  1870.  In  that  year  he 
went  to  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  but  abandoned 


-ipUjci^:^.^^  y^  y^i^^^c/^ 


COXGRESSIOiXAL    DISTRICT   OF   XEJV  JERSEY.  359 

it  after  some  months  on  account  of  his  eyes.  For  nine  succeeding  years 
he  was  employed  at  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum.  He  then  took  an  examina- 
tion as  a  nurse  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Philadelphia 
and  was  registered  as  such.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  Southern  Illinois 
Asylum  at  Anna,  Illinois,  in  1874.  In  1875  he  was  for  some  months  at  the 
State  Hospital  at  Morris  Plains,  and  then  was  again  employed  at  the  State 
Hospital  at  Trenton  for  five  years.  In  1884  he  began  the  undertaking  and 
furniture  business  at  Williamstown.  His  patronage  extends  to  a  great  dis- 
tance, and  he  is  highly  successful  in  his  operations  financially  and  otherwise. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jvlary  W.  Eldridge,  a  daughter  of 
Joshua  and  Amy  Eldridge,  of  Williamstown.  She  died  in  1880.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Alice  McCambridge,  the  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Mary  McCambridge,  of  Philadelphia.  This  marriage  took  place  August 
4,  1881.  Tlieir  five  children  are  William  A.,  deceased;  Joseph  L.,  deceased, 
R.  Edwin,  Anna  M.  and  Livinia  H. 

In  political  belief  Mr.  Buck  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He  has  been  long 
on  the  school  board,  served  for  five  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  1899 
was  elected  to  represent  Gloucester  county  in  the  state  assembly.  In  every 
sense  he  of  whom  we  write  is  a  strong,  manly  man,  of  Avhom  the  county 
and  state  could  justly  be  proud  in  any  place  of  honor  and  trust.  Mr.  Buck 
is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  is  the  past  master  of  Williamstown  Lodge,  No. 
166,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Jvinior  Order  of  American 
Mechanics,  a  past  councilor  of  Silver  Star  Council,  No.  26,  of  Williamstown, 
and  is  also  a  past  sachem  of  Choctaw  Tribe,  No.  112,  Independent  Order  of 
Red  Men,  of  Williamstown.  Socially  he  is  an  affable  gentleman  and  a  self- 
made  man  whose  success  has  been  attained  bv  hard,  honest  work. 


ANTHONY   STEELMAN. 

This  gentleman  has  now  attained  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  yet  is 
actively  connected  with  the  business  interests  of  Tuckahoe,  and  his  enterprise 
and  energy  should  put  to  shame  many  a  younger  man,  who,  grown  tired  of 
the  burden  and  strife  of  business  life,  has  relegated  to  others  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  which  they  should  bear.  I\Ir.  Steelman  has  always  been  noted 
for  his  industry'  and  ability  in  business  affairs,  and  to  this  may  be  attributed 
his  success  in  life. 

A  native  of  Atlantic  county.  New  Jerse}-,  he  was  born  in  Weymouth 
township  December  23,  1823,  his  parents  being  Jonas  and  Rachel  (Cham- 
pion) Steelman.     The  family  is  of  Swedish  lineage,  and  Charles  Steelman, 


360  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

the  first  of  the  name  to  seek  a  home  in  America,  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
became  a  resident  of  Weymouth  township,  his  home  being  on  the  bank  of 
the  Tuckahoe  river.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  some  of  his  de- 
scendants have  since  resided  in  the  locaHty  where  he  made  his  home.  Jonas 
Steehiian,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Weymouth 
township,  Atlantic  county,  and  in  connection  with  agricultural  pursuits  dealt 
extensively  in  wood.  At  the  time  when  this  republic  engaged  in  the  second 
war  with  England,  he  entered  the  service  and  loyally  defended  the  stars  and 
stripes  until  peace  was  once  more  proclaimed.  He  met  his  death  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years,  while  engaged  in  fishing  in  the  Tuckahoe  river.  His  wife 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  Their  children  were:  James, 
who  was  twice  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mary  Scull;  Nathaniel, 
who  married  Sarah  Steelman,  and  had  the  following  children:  Sarah,  Nathan, 
William,  Azilla  and  Sallie;  and  Jonas,  the  father  of  our  subject.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  the  grandfather  was  twice  married,  his  third  wife  being 
Elizabeth  Jane,  by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Mary,  Jeremiah,  Experience 
and  Harry. 

Jonas  Steelman,  the  father  of  him  whose  name  begins  this  review,  was 
born  in  Weymouth  township  and  became  a  glass-blower  by  trade.  He  also 
engaged  in  farming  and  built  a  number  of  vessels,  being  very  successful  in 
his  business  operations.  He  resided  in  his  native  township  for  many  years, 
and  spent  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  in  Tuckahoe,  where  his  death  occurred. 
His  marked  energy  and  diligence  were  crowned  with  the  very  highest  degree 
of  prosperity,  and  he  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  his  county.  In 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  he  held  membership  and  contributed  Hb- 
erally  to  its  support.  He  gave  twelve  hundred  dollars  toward  the  erection 
of  the  house  of  worship  in  Tuckahoe,  and  held  many  ofificial  positions  in  the 
church.  In  the  early  days  when  training  companies  were  organized  he  was 
an  active  member  of  one  of  those  societies.  He  married  Rachael  Cham- 
pion, and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Anthony;  Martha,  wife 
of  David  Tomlin,  a  farmer  of  Cumberland,  New  Jersey,  by  whom  she  had 
four  children.  Smith,  Rachael,  Emma  and  Elizabeth;  Sarah,  wife  of  Franklin 
Horner,  a  pine  dealer  of  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  by  whom  she  has  a  daugh- 
ter, Maud;  Phoebe,  wife  of  William  Tomlin,  a  farmer,  their  children  being 
Jonas,  Emma  and  Edward;  Samuel,  a  merchant,  who  married  Eliza  Jane 
Marshall,  who  was  killed  in  1899,  leaving  four  children,  Clara  Ogden,  Jonas, 
Joseph  and  Phoebe;  and  Roxanna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ward  Still,  a 
farmer  and  merchant  of  Tuckahoe,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Harry 
and  Ward.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  called  to  her  final  rest  April 
3.  ^^73- 


CONGRESSIO.WAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  361 

I 

In  the  district  schools  Anthony  Steehnan  obtained  his  education,  and 
then  turned  his  attention  to  the  wood  business.  He  entered  the  forests  in 
order  to  cut  timber,  but  determined  to  devote  his  energies  to  other  pursuits 
and  gradually  came  to  Tuckahoe,  where  he  sought  and  obtained  a  clerkship. 
He  had  worked  for  his  father  for  sixty-two  and  a  half  cents  per  day  and  thus 
he  had  accumulated  eighty  dollars.  Selling  a  cow  for  twenty  dollars,  he 
invested  his  capital  of  one  hundred  dollars  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
for  a  half  century  was  engaged  in  conducting  a  general  store.  His  enter- 
prise, reasonable  prices  and  earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers  brought 
to  him  a  liberal  patronage,  and  he  conducted  a  large  and  constantly  growing 
business,  from  which  he  derived  a  good  income.  In  1894,  however,  he  sold 
his  business  to  George  L.  Parsons,  and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in 
cedar-lumber  and  insurance  business.  He  has  also  conducted  a  grocery 
and  provision  store,  and  in  these  three  departments  he  has  met  with  credit- 
able success.  He  cuts  over  two  hundred  thousand  feet  of  cedar  timber 
annually,  and  owns  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  cedar  timber,  cord  wood,  oak 
and  pine  land,  besides  considerable  farming  land.  He  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters and  stockholders  of  the  Seashore  Railroad,  served  as  its  director 
for  five  years  and  then  sold  his  interest  to  the  Reading  Railroad  Company. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1849,  Mr.  Steelman  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Emeline  Van  Gilder,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Van  Gilder,  who  died  September 
14,  1878.  Mr.  Steelman  was  then  called  upon  to  settle  up  his  father-in-law's 
estate,  valued  at  fifty-two  thousand  dollars.  He  also  settled  the  estate  be- 
longing to  his  brother-in-law  and  of  many  other  parties,  probably  having 
done  more  of  this  business  than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  His  honesty 
and  reliability  are  proverbial  and  every  trust  reposed  in  him  is  faithfully  ful- 
filled. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steelman  have  been  born  four  children.  Cordelia, 
the  eldest,  died  at  age  of  sixteen  months.  Harry  married  Jeannette  Beebe, 
and  their  children  were  Ida  Rae,  Edna  Bertha,  John,  Harry  Moore  and 
Elihu.  Rachel  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Randolph  Marshall.  A.  Lincoln  married 
Ann  Moore. 

Mr.  Steelman  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  has 
been  an  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  the  party.  He  was  the  sheriff  for 
three  years,  elected  in  the  fall  of  1868.  He  served  as  a  freeholder  for  ten 
years,  was  township  committeeman  for  several  years,  and  has  held  various 
other  township  offices,  discharging  his  duties  with  the  prominence  and 
fidelity  that  have  won  him  high  commendation.  For  several  vears  he  was 
the  president  of. the  Tuckahoe  Building  &  Loan  Association.  For  fiftv-five 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has  held 
all  the  offices  in  that  organization,  having  been  a  trustee  and  steward  of  the 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

church  in  Tuckahoe  for  half  a  century.  He  was  a  charter  meml)er  of  Tucka- 
hoe  Lodge,  No.  67,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  wliich  was  organized  in  i84r),  and  is  the 
only  survivor  of  the  thirty-three  memliers  wlio  instituted  the  lodge.  His 
Hfe  has  been  one  of  activity,  and  at  all  times  has  been  honorable  and  upriglit. 
His  example  is  in  many  respects  worthy  of  emulation,  and  all  who  know  him 
entertain  for  him  respect  and  honor.  He  seems  to  possess  the  vigor  of  a 
man  of  younger  years,  and  it  is  the  wish  of  his  many  friends  that  he  may 
long  be  spared  to  take  his  part,  as  he  has  always  done,  in  the  promotion  of 
commercial  activity  and  in  the  advancement  of  all  the  various  enterprises  that 
have  contributed  to  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  Cape  ^lay  county. 


IRA   ISZARD. 


Ira  Iszard,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Glassboro,  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  Clayton,  December  31,  1832.  He  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  throughout  his  business  career  has  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  worked  at  the  glass-maker's  trade.  The  production  of 
glass  is  one  ol  the  leading  industries  of  this  section  of  the  state  and  to  that 
business  he  devoted  his  energies  for  a  short  time.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  acres  and  its  well  tilled  fields  indicate  his  careful  super- 
vision. He  has  good  buildings  upon  the  place  and  the  neatness  and  thrift 
which  characterize  everything  indicate  him  to  be  a  progressive  and  enter- 
prising agriculturist. 

In  May,  1853,  Mr.  Iszard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Shule, 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  Shule,  of  Penn's  Grove.  They  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  only  five  are  living:  Elmer,  who  aids  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm;  John  H..  who  is  at  home;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Albert 
Johnson,  formerly  of  Millville  but  now  of  Bradford,  Pennsylvania;  and 
Rose  and  Bertha,  still  at  their  parental  home.  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter, 
became  the  wife  of  George  A.  Green  and  died  September  2,  1899. 

Mr.  Iszard  has  been  very  active  in  public  affairs  and  has  served  as  town- 
ship committeeman,  having  been  in  the  ofifice  altogether  for  twelve  years. 
He  was  also  a  surveyor  of  highways,  and  his  political  support  is  given  to  the 
Republican  party.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
with  which  he  has  long  been  ofificially  connected  and  in  which  he  has  acted 
as  a  class-leader  for  some  time.  For  twenty-five  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  society,  and  during  that  period  served  as  the  treasurer  of 
his  lodge.  The  salient  points  in  his  character  are  diligence  and  fidelity, 
qualities  which  have  won  him  success  in  business  and  gained  him  the  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  men  in  public  life. 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  363 

FRANK  R.   NICHOLS. 

The  chief  executive  officer  of  Clayton  is  Hon.  F.  R.  Nichols,  who  in  his 
administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  citj'  displays  a  most  progressive  and 
public-spirited  interest  in  the  general  welfare.  He  exercises  his  official  prero- 
gatives to  advance  all  measures  for  the  public  good  and  withholds  his  support 
and  co-operation  from  no  movement  which  he  believes  will  prove  of  general 
benefit.  In  a  prompt  and  business-like  manner  he  performs  his  public  duties 
and  has  therefore  won  the  commendation  not  only  of  his  own  party  but  also 
of  many  of  the  opposition. 

Mr.  Nichols  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Newton,  that  state,  on  the  31st  of  July,  1824.  His  father,  Franklin  Nichols, 
was  born  in  Haverhill.  Massachusetts,  and  in  i860  removed  to  Oswego, 
New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  as  the  proprietor  of  a  shoe 
store,  and  employed  several  shoemakers.  After  four  years  passed  there  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Cape  May  county.  New  Jersey,  in  1864.  and  also  con- 
ducted a  store  there  for  five  years.  He  subsequently  spent  a  short  time  at 
Millville,  and  in  1872  came  to  Clayton,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  is  a  leading  and  influential  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  is 
holding  the  office  of  deacon,  and  his  aid  is  ever  given  to  those  interests 
which  tend  to  uplift  humanity.  He  mamed  Nancy  David,  a  daughter  of 
Reuben  David,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  in  1896  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  death  of  his  wife,  with  whom  he  had  long  and  happily  traveled  life's  jour- 
ney. They  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive: 
Harriet,  the  wife  of  Captain  Ludnum,  of  Ocean  City,  Maryland;  Charles, 
who  is  the  county  sheriff  and  resides  in  Cape  May  Court  House;  Frank  R., 
of  this  review;  and  Alinnie,  the  wife  of  Captain  Jesse  Price,  of  Cape  May 
Court  House. 

Fred  R.  Nichols  was  a  child  of  only  six  years  when  he  left  the  old  Granite 
state  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  New  York.  He  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  Oswego  and  in  the  schools  of  New  Jersey,  and  after  leaving  the 
school-room  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  working  for  his  father  in  that 
capacitv  for  two  vears.  Since  1872  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Clayton,  still 
following  the  same  business. 

In  March,  1892,  he  was  elected  to  the  mayoralty  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent in  that  office,  his  faithful  service  having  caused  his  re-election.  He  is 
a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations  and  gives  his  support  to  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  party,  keeping  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day. 
Socially  he  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  belonged  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity. 


364  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

He  was  married  in  February,  1873,  to  Miss  Belle  Wolf,  a  daughter  of  Gaud- 
loup  Wolf,  and  they  now  have  two  daughters,  Lizzie  and  Josephine.  Widely 
known  in  Clayton,  the  family  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles,  and 
the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  of  the  city  is  extended  them. 


WILLIAM  ROBBINS. 


Probably  few  of  the  agriculturists  of  Salem  county  can  justly  boast  of 
a  better  kept  farm  than  that  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  article,  who  is  in 
every  sense  of  the  word  a  wide-awake,  enterprising  man.  He  is  well  and 
favorably  known  to  many  persons  throughout  this  state  and  in  other  parts 
of  the  country  as  a  raiser  of  and  dealer  in  fine  thoroughbred  horses,  several 
excellent  specimens  of  which  may  be  found  at  all  times  upon  his  farm. 

The  parents  of  William  Robbins  were,  like  himself,  tillers  of  the  soil. 
The  father.  Van  Room  Robbins,  a  native  of  Monmouth  county,  this  state, 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Swedesboro  in  1837  and  there  engaged  in  farm-" 
ing.  He  departed  this  life  in  1887,  when  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  His  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Margaretta  Blackwell,  was  born  in  Monmouth 
county,  also,  and  at  the  time  of  her  death  Avas  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  sons,  namely:  Henry,  Benjamin  C,  William, 
Frank  and  Harrison,  of  whom  the  last  named  is  deceased. 

William  Robbins  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  near  Swedesboro, 
Gloucester  county,  March  4,  1839.  He  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  every  dejiartment  of  agriculture.  Upon 
starting  out  for  himself  he  rented  a  farm  near  the  parental  home  and  carried 
it  on  successfully  for  a  period  of  five  years.  At  the  end  of  five  years  spent 
in  this  manner  he  removed  to  Salem  county,  where  he  leased  the  home- 
stead of  James  Sharp,  and  in  1874  he  located  upon  his  present  place,  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  three  acres,  which  he  purchased  of  Charles  Clark. 
He  has  brought  the  property  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  reconstruct- 
ing all  the  buildings  which  stood  upon  the  farm  and  making  here  a  model 
country  home.  During  the  '60s  this  place  was  commonly  known  as  the 
"great  hog  farm  of  Jersey,"  oAving  to  the  fact  that  the  largest  hogs  ever 
raised  in  the  state  were  then  developed  here.  Mr.  Robbins  has  been  en- 
gaged in  dairy  farming  to  some  extent,  shipping  his  products  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  finds  a  ready  market.  But  perhaps  he  is  most  widely 
known  in  connection  with  the  fine  horses  which  he  has  raised.  Every  one 
has  heard  of  the  famous  Goldsmith  Volunteer  and  Yorktown  Belle,  with 
records  of  2:204,  for  which  animals  Mr.  Robbins  received  seven  thousand 


CONGRESSIOXAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  365 

dollars.  He  also  owned  Young  Volunteer  by  Goldsmith  Volunteer.  Re- 
cently he  sold  another  pair  of  fine  horses  of  the  same  stock  for  one  thousand 
dollars.  At  the  time  that  the  seven  thousand  dollars  just  mentioned  was 
placed  in  his  hands,  he  concluded  to  invest  it  in  a  valuable  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  acres,  adjoining  his  own  homestead,  and  this  prop- 
erty is  now  managed  by  his  eldest  son. 

In  1866  William  Robbins  and  Miss  ]Mary  F.  Tolman,  of  Gloucester 
county,  were  united  in  marriage.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Van  Room,  William,  Alberta, 
Blanche,  Harry  and  Leon.  Mrs.  Robbins'  parents  were  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth Tolman,  of  whom  the  former  is  deceased,  while  the  latter  is  still  living, 
now  in  her  seventv-eigfhth  vear. 


JAMES   BUTCHER. 


Hon.  James  Butcher,  exrsenator,  of  Salem,  is  the  proprietor  of  a  profit- 
able butchering  business  and  has  clearly  demonstrated  the  fact  that  in  order 
to  be  a  successful  business  man  it  is  not  necessary  to  be  a  man  of  one  idea, 
as  he  has  succesfully  prosecuted  several  lines  of  business  and  has  shown 
himself  the  master  of  each.  In  connection  with  his  other  business  he  fills 
the  ofBce  of  county  collector  for  Salem  county,  and  is  widely  known  and 
esteemed  for  his  many  noble  attributes.  He  w'as  born  March  30,  1849,  in 
Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  this  county,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Mary  (Patrick)  Butcher. 

His  grandfather,  also  James  Butcher,  was  born  in  the  same  locality  No- 
vember 7,  1783,  and  was  an  agriculturist  of  that  district.  He  was  a  man  of 
wisdom  and  was  at  one  time  judge  of  the  court  of  this  county,  and  for 
several  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  being  familiarly  known  as  "Judge" 
Butcher.  His  ot^cial  business  requiring  his  presence  in  Salem  he  moved 
there  and  made  that  his  home  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  Democrats  of  the  county.  He  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  with  ]\Iiss  Hannah  Sayre,  who  was  bom  July  21,  1781.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  born  July  16,  1807,  is  now  the  widow 
of  John  Lambert,  who  was  born  IMarch  25,  1826,  and  was  a  merchant  at 
Hancock's  Bridge,  a  member  of  the  legislature  and  later  a  farmer  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ouinton.  where  he  died.  Job  E.,  born  November  18,  1809,  died 
September  12,  1813.  Ann,  born  January  9,  1812.  died  the  following  Septem- 
ber. Hannah,  born  ]\Iay  7,  1813,  was  married  in  1832  to  John  Lindsey,  a 
farmer  of  Penn's  Neck  township.    James  B.,  born  December  10,  1816,  mar- 


366  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

ried  February  25,  1841,  Barbara  Carll,  and  was  a  farmer  of  Lower  Allo- 
way  and  died  May  14,  1845,  as  a  result  of  a  kick  received  from  a  horse. 
Robert,  tlie  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  December  20,  1819.  Lydia  Ann, 
born  March  20,  1823.  married  WiUiam  E.  Scudder.  a  merchant  residing  at 
Hancock's  Bridge.  James  Butcher,  born  December  26,  1843,  ^^'^^  left  a 
widower,  his  wife  dying  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  five  months,  and  five 
days.  Five  years  later,  on  April  26,  1848,  he  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Mary  B. 
Shimp.  One  child,  Mary,  was  born  to  them  April  13,  1849,  ^"d  is  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Butcher  is  well  remembered  by  many  of  our  older  citizens 
as  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  genial  disposition. 

After  he  had  left  the  district  schools  Robert  Butcher  settled  on  a  farm 
comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  town- 
ship, which  he  kept  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
held  a  number  of  township  ofSces,  being  respected  by  ever\-  one.  He  was 
married  to  ^lary  Patrick  and  reared  several  children,  namely:  Elizabeth  P., 
bom  September  20,  1842,  and  wife  of  Robert  Griscom,  merchant  and  coro- 
ner at  Hancock's  Bridge;  Arabella,  who  was  born  May  14,  1844,  and  died 
the  January  following;  Phoebe  AL,  born  May  20,  1847,  and  died  September 
26,  1853;  James,  our  subject;  Hannah,  bom  May  13,  185 1,  deceased,  mar^ 
ried  J.  Haney  Robinson,  a  merchant;  Theodore,  born  Januarj'  13,  1854, 
died  December  13,  1862;  and  A.  Linda,  born  August  25,  1857,  married 
William  R.  Kelly,  a  merchant  of  Salem,  who  died  January  9.  1879:  she 
died  November  15,  1887.  The  father  of  the  above  children  died  July  28, 
1881,  while  the  mother  passed  away  May  25,  1864. 

Hon.  James  Butcher  attended  school  until  he  reached  his  twentieth 
year,  first  a  pupil  in  the  district  schools  and  later  in  the  Friends'  school  at 
this  city  and  at  Shiloli,  Cumberland  county.  Leaving  school  he  spent  two 
years  farming  with  his  father,  wdien  he  married  and  took  entire  charge  of 
the  farm  for  a  few  years.  Not  being  satisfied  to  make  this  the  occupation  of 
his  life,  he  moved  to  Hancock's  Bridge  and  for  eight  years  was  most  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  About  this  time  he  w^as  elected 
sheriff  of  Salem  county  and  disposed  of  his  stock  of  goods  to  take  charge  of 
that  ofiice.  Soon  after  this  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  taking 
charge  of  the  Elmer  Glass  Company's  plant  and  making  window  glass.  He 
operated  this  factory  three  years  and  during  that  time  purchased  the  plant 
of  the  Molloge  Glass  Manufacturing  Company  and  operated  both  plants  until 
he  was  appointed  revenue  collector,  when  he  sold  out  and  retired  from  the 
business. 

Mr.  Butcher  chose  as  his  bride  Miss  Lydia  C,  daughter  of  Peter  Harris, 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township.    Five  children  have 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  367 

been  born  to  him,  viz.:  Hannah  A.  (Mrs.  F.  Petrick);  Benjamin  E.,  who 
married  Rachel  Carll;  Lydia  C;  Ann  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  James  W.  Carll).  Of 
the  four  children  bom  to  our  subject,  Mary-  A.,  the  eldest,  was  bom  July  7, 
1873.  and  died  April  15,  1889;  J.  Clifford  was  born  in  1876  and  is  the  effi- 
cient bookkeeper  for  the  Ayers  Medicine  Company;  Elizabeth  G.  attended 
school  in  this  city  and  Bridgeton,  graduating  at  the  latter  and  has  been 
one  of  the  most  successful  instructors  in  the  Canton  public  schools;  while 
Robert,  the  youngest  child,  is  yet  a  student.  Mr.  Butcher  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ers of  the  Democratic  party  in  Salem  county,  always  attends  the  conven- 
tions and  is  perfectly  at  home  in  managing  a  campaign.  He  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  sheriff  in  1888  and  served  for  three  years,  when  he  was  elected 
to  the  senate  and  took  his  seat  in  the  legislative  halls  of  the  state  of  New 
Jersey.  From  1890  to  1893  he  looked  carefully  after  the  interests  of  his 
constituents  and  received  many  commendations  for  the  stand  he  took  on 
all  questions  of  importance  to  Salem  county.  In  1894  he  was  appointed 
revenue  collector  for  the  first  district  and  held  the  office  four  years,  and  was 
then  elected  county  collector.  He  is  at  present  engaged  in  the  butcher 
business  and  is  making  the  success  he  did  in  the  other  enterprises  in  which  he 
was  engaged. 


GEORGE  HITCHXER. 


George  Hitchner  was  born  July  22,  1835,  at  Eriesburg,  Salem  county, 
where  he  still  resides,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Johnson)  Hitchner,  a 
grandson  of  Major  John  Hitchner.  and  a  great-grandson  of  Jacob  Hitchner, 
who  came  to  America  from  Germany  and  reared  two  or  three  daughters  and 
four  sons.  One  of  these  sons,  Matthias,  was  a  carpenter  and  was  unmarried; 
one  settled  in  Daretown  and  one  in  Eriesburg. 

Major  John  George  Hitchner  was  born  in  Eriesburg  and  was  a  farmer 
of  that  vicinity.  He  opened  and  conducted  the  Hitchner  tavern,  now  the 
residence  of  John  Van  Leer,  and  was  a  most  popular  host.  He  was  indus- 
trious and  frugal  and  was  thought  to  be  a  man  of  considerable  means.  He 
was  a  Democrat  and  a  major  in  a  military  company.  He  worshipped  in  the 
Lutheran  church.  He  was  twice  married,  his  union  with  Miss  Miller,  the 
grandmother  of  our  subject,  resulting  in  the  birth  of  Jacob,  George,  Martin, 
John  and  two  daughters:  Mary,  wife  of  John  Koats;  and  Margaret,  who 
first  married  a  Mr.  Young  and  later  Adam  Wintzell.  His  second  wife  bore 
him  five  children:  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Jonathan  Wood;  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of 
Daniel  Johnson;   Lydia  Ann,  wife  of  Jacob  Walter;  Samuel  and  Levi. 

John  Hitchner  was  born  in  1793  on  the  old  farm  in  Friesl)urg,  where 


368  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

he  grew  to  manhood  and  passed  his  entire  hfe,  the  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  furnisliing  him  a  pleasant  liome  and  comfortable  income.  Like  his 
father  he  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  was  honored  with  a  number  of 
township  offices  besides  acting  as  committeeman.  He  united  with  the 
Lutheran  church  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  building  up  of  the  work  of 
that  organization  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  its  most  efificient  officers. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Johnson,  ])y  whom  he  had  twelve  children, 
six  sons  and  as  many  daughters,  namely:  Johnson,  a  farmer,  now  deceased, 
married  Mary  Colvin  and  had  seven  children, — Daniel,  Gould,  Ed,  George, 
Samuel,  who  is  in  the  Bridgeton  National  Bank,  Neal,  and  Mary,  who  died 
and  left  three  children.  Lewis,  a  farmer  who  died  in  1899,  married  Isabel 
Moore,  by  whom  he  had  several  children, — Jacob,  Scott,  Lewis,  Lizzie  Pea- 
cock, Sallie  Miller  and  Ruth.  Susanna,  deceased,  married  Isaac  Van  Lear; 
Christina  became  the  wife  of  William  Remster,  a  miller,  and  had  one  daugh- 
ter, who  married  Scott  Grice  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children, — Clayton 
and  one  other.  Matilda  married  Jeremiah  Watson,  a  farmer  and  miller,  and 
their  children  are  George,  Jeremiah,  \\'ilfred,  Sarah  Dunham,  and  Mary, 
who  married  William  Kenzell.  ]\Iary  Ann,  deceased,  married  Benjamin 
Garrison,  a  farmer,  now  deceased,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren,— Lewis,  William,  Caroline,  Anna  and  Ella.  Eli  Fallen  married  Mrs. 
Theodosia  Pierson,  and  their  children  are  William,  Frank,  Philip.  ]Mrs. 
Zaiser,  Mrs.  Hamilton,  Ella,  Erbin  and  Charles.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  John 
Mickle,  a  farmer.  John  and  George  are  the  next  members  of  the  family. 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Batton  Jones,  and  they  have  three  daugh- 
ters,— Catherine,  Phoebe,  and  Ella;  Charles,  now  deceased,  was  the  young- 
est. He  married  Lizzie  Timberman  and  had  four  children, — John,  Jilaggie, 
Bert,  and  Geneva.  The  father  of  this  family  reached  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years  before  his  earthly  career  was  ended,  and  a  noble,  generous  nature  was 
called  to  its  reward. 

George  Hitchner  grew  to  manhood  in  Friesburg  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  vicinity.  He  has  an  acquired  as  well  as  natural 
talent  for  agriculture  and  for  forty  years  tended  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  land.  He  takes  a  great  interest  in  everything  that  affects  the  inter- 
est of  the  farmer,  and  united  with  the  Grange,  as  he  believed  it  would  be  the 
means  of  bringing  great  good  to  the  farmer.  He  is  a  general  farmer  and 
keeps  a  number  of  cows,  selling  the  milk,  from  which  he  receives  a  neat 
income,  while  the  animals  at  the  same  time  are  the  means  of  enriching  and 
building  up  his  farm.  He  realized  that  his  crops  if  marketed  in  the  usual 
manner  would  bring  but  a  medium  price,  while  if  fed  to  cows  and  their 
product  disposed  of  he  would  be  sure  of  a  steady  market  and  would  realize 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  369 

much  more  for  his  labor.  It  is  such  farmers  who  use  their  brains  as  well  as 
their  muscle  to  whom  Salem  county  owes  much  of  its  prosperity. 

He  was  united  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Johnson,  a 
farmer.  They  have  the  following  named  children:  Amanda,  wife  of  David 
Shrimp,  a  farmer,  and  the  mother  of  three  children, — George,  Eddie,  and  an 
infant;  Ellwood,  a  farmer,  who  married  Lizzie  Snellbecker,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child,  Esily;  Benjamin,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia;  Hattie,  who  married 
Dr.  Frank  Harris,  of  Canton,  New  Jersey;  Lizzie  Mary,  wife  of  John  May, 
a  blacksmith,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Carrie;  Sallie,  wife  of  Harris  Carll, 
a  farmer;  George,  a  farmer,  who  married  Addie  Hitchner,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child,  Addie;  and  the  others  are  Clayton,  Anna,  Laura,  Stephen  and 
William. 

Mr.  Hitchner  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  been  a  politician.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  more  than 
thirty  years  and  in  which  he  has  lieen  an  active  worker,  giving  liberally 
toward  its  support. 


MICAJAH  B.  CASSADAY. 

Prominent  among  the  leading  farmers  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Monroe- 
ville,  Salem  county,  Ncav  Jersey,  is  found  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  Micajah  B.  Cassaday.  He  is  a  native  of  Salem  county. 
New  Jersey,  born  near  the  town  of  Elmer,  .\ugust  5,  1837,  a  son  of  Job  Cassa- 
day, who  was  a  native  of  Gloucester  county,  this  state,  and  a  representative 
of  one  of  the  early  families  of  New  Jersey.  Job  Cassaday,  when  a  young  man 
moved  from  Gloucester  to  Salem  county,  where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his 
life  and  where  he  died  in  1887.  He  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  an  honor- 
able and  upright  man,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Stevenson,  was  a  native  of  Burlington  county.  New 
Jersey.  She  also  died  in  1887.  Of  their  six  children  three  are  now  living: 
Rebecca,  wife  of  Robert  Brock,  of  Burlington  county;  Micajah  B.,  the  direct 
subject  of  this  sketch;  and  John,  who  resides  on  a  farm  near  Elmer. 

M.  B.  Cassaday  spent  his  boyhood  days  not  unlike  other  farmer  boys, 
working  on  the  farm  in  summer  and  attending  the  district  school  in  winter. 
In  1857,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  began  farming  operations  on  his  own  ac- 
count near  Monroeville.  and  two  years  later,  in  1859,  he  purchased  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides,  two  hundred  ahd  thirty  acres,  where  he  has  since 
carried  on  general  farming.     Besides  this  he  owns  two  other  farms. 

Mr.  Cassaday,  while  he  has  never  sought  public  office,  has  been  called 
upon  to  fill  such  positions  as  overseer  of  the  road  and  member  of  the  town- 


370  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

ship  committee,  to  which  lie  has  given  his  careful  attention,  serving  in  the 
latter  capacity  three  years. 

He  was  married  in  September,  1858,  to  Miss  Mary  Ayers,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Ayers,  of  Salem  county;  and  they  have  had  six  children,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are:  Rebecca,  wife  of  Robert  Cornell, 
of  Glassboro,  New  Jersey;  Albert,  of  Elmer,  New  Jersey;  and  Linda,  wife 
of  Rogers  Gruff,  of  Campletown,  New  Jersey. 


LEWIS  H.  MILLER. 


The  profession  of  medicine  has  drawn  to  its  service  some  of  the  brightest 
and  most  efficient  men  of  every  generation,  and  it  has  more  than  kept  pace 
with  other  professions  in  the  vapid  advancement  which  has  given  the  nine- 
teenth century  a  place  of  honor  in  the  history  of  the  world.  New  Jersey 
has  many  promising  young  physicians,  but  none  of  more  brilliant  promise 
than  Dr.  Lewis  Hitchner  Miller,  of  Woodstown,  some  account  of  whose 
antecedents  and  whose  career  it  will  be  attempted  to  give  in  the  succeeding 
paragraphs. 

Dr.  Lewis  H.  Miller  was  born  at  Friesburg,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey, 
July  13,  1868,  a  son  of  William  A.  and  Sarah  M.  (Hitchner)  Miller.  Joseph 
Miller,  his  grandfather  in  the  paternal  line,  was  a  native  and  lifelong  resident 
of  Stone  Church,  Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  was  a  weaver  and  farmer,  a  successful 
and  prominent  citizen.  William  A.  Miller,  father  of  Dr.  Lewis  H.  Miller, 
died  March  23,  1899,  aged  sixty-two  years.  He  began  a  noteworthy  career 
as  a  teacher  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  and  pursued  it  without  interrup- 
tion for  eight  years,  until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  for  nine  months 
as  a  member  of  Company  C,  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Virginia, 
May  2  and  3,  1863,  and  in  the  first  battle  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia, 
December  13,  1862,  after  which  he  was  made  orderly  sergeant.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  was  profifered  the  office  of  com- 
missioned officer  and  declined  it  to  return  to  New  Jersey  and  resume  school- 
teaching,  which,  though  he  had  won  credit  as  a  soldier,  he  preferred  to 
further  warfare. 

In  1865  he  married  Sarah  M.,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth 
Litchner,  and  bought  a  store  at  Centerville,  Northampton  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1866  he  disposed  of  his  mercantile  interests  in  Pennsylvania 
and  removed  to  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.     From  the  spring  of  1868  to 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  371 

1875  he  was  in  charge  of  his  father-in-law's  farming-  interests.  In  1875  l^^ 
bought  a  farm  near  Friesburg,  Salem  county,  where  he  lived  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  diligent  reader  of  instructive  literature  and 
was  a  lifelong  student,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the  political,  educational 
and  religious  work  of  his  community.  Possessing  social  qualities  which 
endeared  him  to  all  whom  he  met,  he  had  many  warm  friends  among  lead- 
ing men  throughout  this  part  of  the  state.  He  was  especially  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  the  Lutheran  church. 

Lewis  Hitchner,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Lewis  H.  Miller  in  the  maternal 
line,  died  in  Alarch,  1899,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  His  widow  survives 
him,  aged  seventy-eight.  Five  brothers  and  two  sisters  of  William  A.  Miller 
are  living:  Lavinia,  Kate,  Jacob,  John,  James,  Theodore  and  Albert.  Three 
brothers  and  one  sister  of  Elizabeth  (Hitchner)  Miller  are  living:  Jacob, 
Scott,  Lewis,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas  Peacock. 

Dr.  Lewis  H.  Miller  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  life  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  as  superintendent  of  his  father's  farm,  the  elder  Miller's  time 
being  devoted  to  teaching.  Under  his  father's  instruction  and  in  the  public 
school  he  had  already  acquired  a  good  primary  education.  In  the  winter  he 
attended  Benjamin  Ames'  private  school  and  under  that  enthusiastic 
educator  made  good  progress.  Later  he  spent  two  years  as  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  township  and  attended  the  West  Jersey 
Academy  for  one  year.  In  September,  1891,  he  entered  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  for  a  four-years  course  in  medicine,  and  was  graduated  in 
1895.  After  one  year  of  preliminary  experience  he  located  at  Woodstown, 
New  Jersey,  where  his  success  has  brought  him  an  extensive  practice. 

On  February  16,  1898,  Dr.  Miller  married  Martha  C.  Cooper,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Kirby)  Cooper,  natives  of  Salem  county,  this 
state.  Mr.  Cooper  has  been  active  and  influential  in  every  public  relation. 
He  represented  his  county  two  terms  as  assemblyman,  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  and  directors  of  the  Delaware  River  Railroad.  As  a  fruit-grower 
and  truck  farmer  he  achieved  a  notable  success,  retiring  from  this  business 
in  1890.  Mrs.  Cooper  died  in  1884.  Mrs.  Miller  is  one  of  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living, — Howard  G.,  William  R..  Maria  (Cooper)  Fogg, 
Elizabeth  (Cooper)  Borton,  and  Martha  (Cooper)  Miller.  Mrs.  Miller  is 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  while  Dr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  zealous  in  all  its  good  works  and  active  and  generous 
in  the  furtherance  of  all  its  important  interests.  Dr.  Miller  is  a  citizen  of 
much  public  spirit  and  has  in  many  ways  shown  that  he  has  a  deep  interest 
in  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  Woodstown.  Though  not  a  politician  in 
the  ordinary  acceptance  of  the  term,  he  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  every 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

question  affecting  the  public  welfare  and.  as  a  patriotic  citizen,  takes  such 
a  part  in  the  work  of  his  party  as  he  deems  most  promising  for  the  good  of 
the  people  of  his  town,  county,  state  and  country. 


ED\V.\RD  BR.VDWAY 


Any  one  who  has  heard  of  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  is  familiar  w-ith 
the  name  of  Bradway  and  knows  that  members  of  the  family  here  referred  to 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  assisted  in  trans- 
forming the  wilderness  of  early  uncivilized  times  into  fields  of  fertility  and 
verdure. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Morris  River  township,  Cumberland  county,  June -19,  1819.  and  is  a  son  of 
Adna  and  Lydia  (Baner)  Bradway.  He  traces  his  genealogy  back  through 
five  generations  in  direct  line  from  Adna.  Edward,  Jonathan,  William,  to 
Edward  Bradway,  who  came  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  Mary,  Wil- 
liam and  Susannah,  together  with  three  servants,  to  this  country,  in  1677. 
They  emliarked  from  London  in  March  of  that  year  on  the  ship  Kent  and 
landed  at  Salem  in  July,  after  a  voyage  of  four  months.  He  had  previously 
purchased  a  town  lot  and  one  thousand  acres  of  land  of  the  proprietor  before 
John  Fenwick  came  here  with  his  colony.  He  purchased  sixteen  acres  lying 
adjacent  to  Broadway  and  extending  from  the  wharf  to  Fenwick  creek.  In 
1691  he  erected  the  large,  handsome  building  which  is  still  standing  and 
has  become  famous  as  the  Governor's  house  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the 
residence  of  the  governor  of  New  Jersey  after  the  death  of  Edward  Bradway. 
It  is  a  large  brick  structure,  rivaling  in  size  and  architecture  the  homes 
built  by  William  Penn  and  Samuel  Carpenter  in  Philadelphia,  and  is  still  in 
possession  of  his  lineal  descendants.  He  received  as  his  allotment  from  John 
Fenwick  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Alloway  creek  and  on  this 
land  founded  the  Bradway  family  in  America.  His  children  were:  Mary, 
who  married  William  Cooper,  in  the  year  1687.  He  was  the  first  blacksmith 
in  Salem.  They  had  three  children:  Mary,  born  in  1688;  Sarah,  born  in 
1690;  and  Hannah,  born  in  1692.  \Mlliani.  the  second  child  of  Edward 
Bradway,  married  Elizabeth  White,  a  daughter  of  Christopher  White,  who 
was  born  in  London  in  1669;  they  had  three  children:  William,  who  died 
young;  Jonathan,  born  in  1699,  and  Elizabeth,  born  in  T701;  Susannah  was 
the  third  child;  and  Hannah,  the  youngest,  was  born  after  the  family  reached 
this  country. 

Jonathan  Bradway  was  born  in  i''>99  and  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 


C0XGRESSI0.X.4L   DISTRICT   OF   NEIV   JERSEY.  373 

being  Mary  Daniels,  a  daughter  of  James  Daniels,  Sr.  They  had  three 
children,— William,  born  in  1728.  Rachel  and  Jonathan.  For  his  second  wife 
he  chose  Susannah  Oakford,  daughter  of  Charles  Oakford,  Jr.,  and  by  her 
also  had  three  children,— Edward,  born  in  1741,  Sarah  and  Nathan. 

Edward  Bradway  was  born  April  31,  1741,  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek 
township,  Salem  county,  where  he  grew  up  to  become  one  of  the  best  farm- 
ers in  that  section.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  attending 
the  Alloway  Creek  meeting  and  was  known  as  a  God-fearing,  upright  man. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth,  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Ann  Waddington 
and  was  born  February  11.  1740.  Their  children  were  David,  born  Novem- 
ber 27,  1761,  and  died  December  28.  1820:  Hannah,  born  March  i,  1764, 
and  died  December  16.  1795:  Edward,  born  December  22.  1867,  and  died 
September  24,  1777;  Waddington,  born  January  15,  1770,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 20.  1834;  Elizabeth,  born  January  22,  1774,  and  died  December  3,  1808; 
and  Adna,  bom  February  16,  1777,  and  died  April  24,  i860.  Edward  Brad- 
way  died  October  25,  1813,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years:  and  his  wife 
died  January  20.  1796,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 

Adna  Bradway  was  a  native  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township  and  com- 
bined the  vocations  of  farming  and  pump-manufacture.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  Morris  River  township,  Cumberland  county,  and  there  engaged  in 
farming  and  milling.  He  was  a  Republican  and  made  one  of  the  best 
overseers  of  roads  ever  known  in  the  county.  He  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  lived  in  Stow  Creek  township  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
united  in  matrimony,  in  1801,  to  Miss  Sarah  Baker,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son.  John,  who  was  born  August  13,  1802,  and  died  October  5  of  the  same 
year.  He  also  lost  his  wife  and  then  placed  at  the  head  of  his  household 
Miss  Lydia  Baner,  to  whom  he  was  joined  November  10.  1808.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Elisha  Baner,  who  was  born  October  3,  1748,  and  died  July 
9,  1782.  He  lived  at  Cape  May,  this  state,  and  was  a  farmer  and  fisher  all  his 
life  long.  He  was  a  Quaker  in  his  religion  and  a  good  man.  His  children 
were  Jacob,  born  March  2,  1775,  and  died  July  11,  1859,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years;  Mark,  born  December  26,  1776,  and  died  December  6,  1857; 
Elisha,  born  December  2,  1778,  and  died  November  29,  1862;  Hannah,  born 
November  8,  1780,  and  died  January  7,  1853;  and  Lydia,  born  November  10, 
1782,  and- died  December  8,  1856.  Lydia  Bradway  presented  her  husband 
with  the  following  children,  viz.:  Sarah,  born  November  29,  1809.  and  died 
January  26,  1895,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  one  month  and  twenty-six 
days;  Elisha  B.,  born  November  i,  1811,  died  December  11,  1853:  Adna, 
born  August  3,  1814,  died  July  4.  1886:  he  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Gray  on 
February  22,  1844;  Jacob,  born  November  30,  1816,  died  December  9,  1898; 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

Ethvanl,  nur  snhjcct:  Lydia.  horn  November  30,  1821.  and  died  in  1859; 
Jonathan  J.,  horn  Ah'ux-h  14.  1824:  and  Elizalieth,  l)orn  Xovemher  jo,  1827, 
and  died  January  24,  1895. 

EcKvard  Bradvvay  received  his  education  in  Port  Elizaheth  and  Morris 
River  and  Stow  Creek  townships,  and  from  the  school-room  went  at  once 
upon  the  farm.  He  owned  a  small  farm  which  he  cultivated  for  many  years, 
prospering  in  his  business  and  laying-  up  a  competency  for  the  shadowy 
days  of  life.  In  1899  he  retired  from  active  business  and  moved  to  the  city 
of  Salem,  where  he  is  respected  by  every  one.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  formerly  attending  at  the  Greenwich 
meetingdiouse,  of  the  Hicksite  division. 


CHARLES  R.  WHITESELL. 

Charles  Reeves  W'hitesell.  of  Salem,  has  won  more  than  a  local  reputa- 
tion as  a  carpenter  and  buikler.  being  one  of  the  most  reliable  and  skillful 
members  of  the  craft  in  the  county.  His  parents  were  John  and  Eliza 
(Curry)  W'hitcscU.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  who  moved  to 
Salem  county  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  and  worked  at  his  traile.  which  was 
that  of  contractor  and  builder.  He  was  a  good  workman  and  received  a 
generous  patronage  from  the  residents  of  the  county.  His  political  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  Democrats,  while  in  religion  he  affiliated  with  the 
Methodists,  to  which  church  he  united  in  early  life.  He  had  seven  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  four  daughters,  namely:  Harriet,  Josiah,  Abigail, 
Marietta,  Charles  Reeves,  John  C,  and  a  daughter  that  died  in  infancy.  The 
father  was  called  from  his  labors  in  1879,  in  his  fifty-ninth  year.  The  mother 
was  sixty-five  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

Charles  R.  Whitesell  was  born  October  30,  i860,  in  Pennsville,  Salem 
county,  attended  the  schools  in  Salem,  was  apprenticed  for  three  years  to 
learn  the  trade  of  carpentering,  and  the  following  fifteen  years  worked  at  the 
trade  as  a  journeyman.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  began  to  make 
contracts  and  build,  and  also  took  contracts  in  brick  work,  employing  si.x 
men  to  prosecute  the  work,  and  has  succeeded  in  establishing  a  business  that 
is  at  once  flattering  to  his  workmanship  and  gratifying  as  a  source  of  income. 

Mr.  Whitesell  was  married  December  24,  1883,  to  ^liss  Rose  A.  Balles,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Balles,  who  resides  in  Salem  and  is  an  oil-cloth  manufac- 
turer by  trade.  One  child,  a  son,  Norman  J.,  was  born  of  this  union.  Mr. 
Whitesell  is  a  Democrat  but  takes  little  active  part  in  political  measures,  as 
his  business  occupies  his  entire  attention.    He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Frank- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  375 

lin  Building  and  Loan  Association,  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  order  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which 
he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  He  has  a  membership  in  the 
Memorial  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee,  and  is  one 
of  those  trusty,  sturdy  men  whose  stability  and  enterprising  spirit  go  far 
toward  promoting  the  best  interests  of  a  community. 


JOHN  L.  DOWNS. 


A  native  of  Downstown,  New  Jersey,  born  March  17,  1845.  J.  L.  Downs, 
a  well  known  merchant  of  Newfield,  Gloucester  county,  is  a  son  of  Ira 
Downs  and  grandson  of  John  Downs,  both  of  whom  were  well-to-do  farmers 
and  lumbermen.  The  father  of  our  subject,  a  native  of  Downstown  also, 
departed  this  life  when  in  his  early  prime,  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  ^Methodist  church  and  enjoyed  the  genuine  respect  of 
all  with  whom  he  was  associated.  His  widow,  whose  name  in  girlhood  was 
Margaret  Lashley,  and  who  is  a  daughter  of  John  Lashley,  is  still  living,  now 
being  in  her  seventy-ninth  year.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  Ira  and  Marga- 
ret Downs  all  but  one  survive:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  C.  Downs; 
John  Lashley  and  Stephen  A.  Mrs.  Margaret  Downs  married  secondly, 
James  C.  Jones,  and  resides  in  the  old  Lashley  homestead,  formerly  her 
father's  home.  Of  the  two  children  of  this  marriage  William  J.  Jones  sur- 
vives and  lives  near  the  "lake." 

In  his  youth  J.  L.  Downs  received  small  advantages  in  the  way  of  an 
education  save  those  afforded  by  the  public  schools  of  his  district,  but  the 
power  of  observation,  which  he  possesses  in  a  marked  degree,  has  broadened 
and  liberalized  his  mind,  more,  perhaps,  than  a  collegiate  course  might  have 
done.  Having  been  reared  to  the  various  duties  pertaining  to  the  manage- 
ment of  a  farm,  it  is  not  strange  that  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
forefathers  and  made  agriculture  his  means  of  gaining  a  livelihood.  How- 
ever, in  1887,  when  he  had  arrived  at  his  prime,  he  removed  to  Newfield  and 
opened  a  store,  which  he  has  carried  on  up  to  the  present  time,  with  suc- 
cess. He  owns  a  house  and  lot  here  and  is  prospering,  as  he  justly  deserves 
to  do. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1873,  Mr.  Downs  married  Sally  E.  Soiider,  a  daughter 
of  Charles  Souder,  of  Downstown.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living:  Howard,  who  lives  at  Newfield;  and  Mary, 
who  resides  at  home.  For  twelve  years  our  subject  has  been  the  treasurer 
of  the  local  lodge  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  and 


376  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

for  a  like  period  he  was  a  steward  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
also  has  served  efficiently  as  a  school  trustee  and  as  an  overseer  of  the  poor, 
and  in  each  of  these  varied  offices  has  discharged  his  duties  in  a  manner 
reflecting-  great  credit  upon  his  sagacity  and  fidelity  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  people. 


WILLIAM  B.  JONES. 


W.  B.  Jones  belongs  to  the  younger  class  of  citizens  whose  enterprise 
and  push  have  placed  them  on  a  basis  equal  to  that  of  older  and  Avidely 
experienced  men,  and  has  brought  the  village  of  Elmer  to  be  ranked  among 
the  prosperous  commercial  towns  of  the  state.  It  is  gratifying  to  a  high 
degree,  to  the  citizens  there,  that  Mr.  Jones  has  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business;  and  while  hustling  for  his  own  prosperity  he  also  promotes  the 
interest  of  the  entire  community. 

He  was  born  in  Aldine,  Alloway  township,  this  county,  June  5,  1873, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  V.  and  a  grandson  of  Joseph  Jones,  both  natives  of 
Elmer.  The  family  came  from  Wales  and  settled  in  this  village,  where 
Joseph  grew  to  manhood  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  conduct- 
ing two  stores  in  the  village  of  Elmer,  one  at  each  end  of  the  tawn.  He 
was  a  freeholder  and  received  the  nomination  for  sheriff  at  one  time.  Samuel 
V.  moved  to  Aldine  in  1864  and  opened  a  store,  which  he  conducted  for 
several  years.  He  has  been  the  postmaster  since  1886  and  has  held  all 
the  town  offices. 

William  B.  Jones  completed  a  good  common-school  education,  supple- 
menting it  with  a  course  at  the  Philadelphia  Business  College  and  taking 
the  entire  business  course  in  six  months.  He  then  returned  home  and  for 
eighteen  months  was  with  his  father  in  the  store.  A  place  was  offered  him 
on  the  traveling  force  of  B.  S.  Janney,  Jr.,  &  Company,  of  Philadelphia, 
large  wholesale  grocers,  for  whom  he  worked  some  time,  and  then 
resigned  to  accept  a  similar  position  for  Thomas  Roberts  &  Company,  of 
that  city,  who  also  were  in  the  wholesale  grocery  business.  He  traveled 
for  them  eight  years  and  made  many  friends  along  his  route  whose  orders 
always  awaited  his  coming.  On  mature  deliberation  he  decided  to  venture 
into  the  commercial  field  for  himself,  and  on  February  4,  1899,  he  opened 
a  general  store  in  Elmer,  in  which  he  carries  a  complete  line  of  goods  and 
is  almost  sure  of  meeting  the  wants  of  his  patrons.  He  has  been  success- 
ful from  the  start  in  establishing  his  business  on  a  firm  basis,  and  has  dis- 
played an  energy  and  enterprise  seldom  found  in  one  so  young.  His  trade 
is  rapidly  increasing  and  brings   patrons  from   all  over  the  surrounding 


William  S3.  Jones. 


COXGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT  OF  NEW  JERSEY.  2)77 

country  to  the  village,  where  his  courteous  and  affable  treatment  compels 
their  approbation  and  good  will.  Aside  from  his  mercantile  business,  he 
has  also  a  canning  establishment  at  Daretown,  where  he  cans  apples,  toma- 
toes and  pears,  packing  above  nine  thousand  cases  in  1899. 

Mr.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  February  7,  1896,  to  Miss  Mattie 
Reeves,  of  Alloway,  a  daughter  of  William  Reeves.  They  have  one  child, 
Samuel,  who  is  the  light  of  their  home.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  a  num- 
ber of  fraternal  orders,  belonging  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Red  Cross.  He  is  rapidly  forging  his  way  to  the  front  of  successful 
business  men  and  a  brilliant  career  lies  before  him. 


JAMES  B.   NICHOLSON. 

James  B.  Nicholson,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Elsinboro  township, 
Salem  county,  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Indiana,  July  18,  1856,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  T.  and  Elebeta  S.  (Baker)  Nicholson.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  this  county  and  removed  to  Indiana  in  1853.  During  the  civil  war  he 
enlisted  in  the  Forty-first  Indiana  Volunteers,  first  in  ninety-day  service 
and  later  in  three-year  serv-ice,  became  sergeant  and  died  in  a  hospital  in 
1863.  He  had  eight  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, — James  B.;  and  Capi- 
tola,  who  married  Augustus  Opel,  of  Massillon,  Ohio. 

January  13,  1865,  Mr.  Nicholson  returned  to  New  Jersey  and  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem  county  and  at  the  Collegiate 
Institute  at  Salem.  He  lived  with  his  uncle,  William  Thompson,  until  1881, 
and  subsequently  followed  the  butchering  business  in  Salem  for  six  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  the  farm.  This  farm  was  occupied  for  forty-two 
years  by  the  late  William  Thompson,  who  died  in  1889.  He  built  the  pres- 
ent residence,  set  out  the  trees,  which  are  now  large  and  beautiful,  and 
brought  the  farm  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  A  portion  of  the  farm  was 
bequeathed  to  Mr.  Nicholson,  who  later  became  sole  owner. 

In  December,  1881,  Mr.  Nicholson  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  D., 
daughter  of  Peter  Breece,  who  for  many  years  was  a  merchant  in  Salem. 
They  have  three  children. — Elsie  Breece,  Jennie  Dumont  and  William 
Thompson.  Mr.  Nicholson  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  has  been 
township  clerk,  a  member  of  the  township  committee  four  years,  of  which 
he  is  now  chairman,  and  was  a  trustee  of  the  county  almshouse  in  1898.  He 
was  also  chosen  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  and  president  of  the 
board,  but  could  not  act  on  account  of  holding  other  offices. 

Mr.  Nicholson's  grandfather,  Daniel  Nicholson,  was  one  of  three  broth- 


378  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ers,  English  Quakers,  who  settled  in  Salem  county.     The  present  genera- 
tion, however,  are  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


HOWARD  E.  MOORE. 


Among  the  many  enterprising  young  business  men  of  Swedesboro  who 
have  taken  up  the  work  that  their  fathers  have  laid  down,  and  are  bending 
their  energies  to  carving  out  a  successful  career  for  themselves,  and  at  the 
same  time  promoting  the  growth  of  their  town,  may  be  mentioned  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Swedesboro,  May  23,  1877,  and  is  a  son 
of  George  Franklin  and  Ella  (Waters)  Moore.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  Ezekiel  and  Keziah  (Justice)  Moore.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of  John 
Moore,  and  a  great-great-grandson  of  the  pioneer  of  the  family  who  came 
from  Germany  and  settled  in  Gloucester  county  at  an  early  day.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  pf  our  subject,  who  married  Rachel  Brick,  is  a  native  of 
Woodstown,  New  Jersey,  but  was  a  prominent  farmer  in  Gloucester  county 
for  many  years,  and  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  Swedesboro,  from  1856 
to  1890.  He  has  for  several  years  filled  the  ofifice  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
The  maternal  great-grandparents,  Ephraim  and  Elizabeth  (Campbell) 
Waters,  were  natives  of  Woodstown  and  Glassboro,  New  Jersey,  respec- 
tively. 

Howard  E.  Moore  attended  the  public  schools  of  Swedesboro,  and  from 
early  boyhood  assisted  his  father  in  the  livery  business,  to  which  he  suc- 
ceeded in  1898.  On  August  17,  1898,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mamie 
B.,  daughter  of  John  Johnson,  of  Repaupo,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Moore  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  in  politics  advocates 
the  views  of  the  Republican  party.    He  has  one  sister.  Miss  Elsie  Moore. 


WILLIAM  HEBENTHAL. 

Cape  May  can  boast  of  no  more  worthy  citizen  than  William  Hebenthal, 
a  grand  type  of  the  German-American,  one  who  has  fought  under  the  ban- 
ner of  his  adopted  country  and  has  loyally  upheld  her  institutions  in  days 
of  peace.  His  record,  both  in  public  and  in  private  life,  is  above  reproach 
and  is  truly  worthy  of  emulation. 

The  father  and  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sul)ject  were  both  named 
Christian,  and  both  were  farmers  by  occupation.  The  younger  man  was 
one  of  two  children,  he  having  a  sister,  Mrs.  Wagner.  For  a  wife  he  chose 
Dora  Molhennick,  and  to  them  five  children  were  born,  namely:     Peter, 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW  JERSEY.  379 

Martin.  Harry,  William  and  Elizabeth.  The  latter  became  the  wife  of  a 
Mr.  Littebrandt,  a  teacher  and  minister.  He  removed  to  the  United  States 
and  when  the  war  with  Mexico  broke  out  he  volunteered  his  services  to  the 
land  of  his  adoption  and-proved  himself  not  only  a  devoted  soldier  but  an  un- 
usually wise  and  brilliant  ofificer.  for  he  was  raised  from  the  ranks,  where  he 
was  serving  as  a  private,  until  at  length  he  bore  the  insignia  of  a  brigadier 
general.  Tendering  his  resignation  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  return- 
ing home  on  one  of  the  army  transports,  when  death  came  to  him  in  the 
guise  of  yellow  fever.  Christian  Hebenthal,  Jr.,  died  when  in  the  prime  of 
life,  but  thirty-three  years  of  age;  but  his  widow  survived  him  many  years, 
her  death  taking  place  when  she  had  reached  three-score  and  ten  years. 

The  birth  of  William  Hebenthal  occurred  June  24,  1824,  in  Sickemberg, 
Germany.  His  youth  was  passed  in  Osbach,  Hesse-Cassel,  and  in  1846  he 
determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  United  States.  Coming  to  these  hos- 
pitable shores  on  the  good  ship  Philadelphia,  he  landed  in  the  city  of  the 
same  name,  and  thence  went  to  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  where,  as  pre- 
viously, he  was  employed  at  agricultural  pursuits  for  some  time.  Then. 
going  to  the  town  of  Malaga,  this  state,  he  drove  a  team  for  the  Jackson 
Glass  Works  and  followed  various  lines  of  business  until  1849,  when  he 
came  to  Cape  May.  During  the  ensuing  twelve  years  he  drove  a  stage  be- 
tween Philadelphia  and  this  city,  having  six  relays  of  horses,  and  conveying 
both  passengers  and  mail.  It  was  not  until  1861  that  he  finally  abandoned 
this  enterprise,  which  the  construction  of  the  West  Jersey  Railroad  rendered 
practically  useless,  and  the  next  few  years  he  devoted  to  farming  in  the 
vicinity  of  Seaville,  also  being  employed  upon  the  railroad  mentioned. 

In  1885  Mr.  Hebenthal  estabHshed  himself  in  the  hvery  business  at  Cape 
May,  succeeding  Samuel  Van  Scivor.  He  keeps  fifteen  excellent  driving 
and  saddle  horses,  and  a  good  assortment  of  modern  vehicles.  A  specialty 
is  made  of  boarding  horses,  and  during  the  course  of  a  year  many  sales  of 
good  animals  are  made  through  his  influence.  Integrity  and  justice  have 
brought  him  into  favor  with  all  who  know  him  and  the  prosperity  which  he 
enjoys  is  richly  deserved. 

When  the  Mexican  war  was  in  progress,  Mr.  Hebenthal  enlisted  in  the 
■Second  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  under  command  of  Captain 
Much,  and  at  the  battles  of  Buena  Vista  and  Vera  Cruz  was  under  the  leader- 
ship of  General  Taylor.  Near  the  last  named  city  he  received  a  saber  wound 
in  the  cheek  during  a  desperate  attempt  which  he  and  three  of  his  comrades 
made  to  capture  some  mail.  They  were  attacked  by  a  band  of  twenty-tive 
]\Iexican  guerrillas,  who  were  repulsed  by  the  four  brave  men.  not  one  of  the 
latter  being  killed. 


38o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Politically  our  subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  though  he  has  never  been 
desirous  of  holding  public  offices,  he  has  been  city  marshal  and  keeper  of 
the  pound.  Religiously  he  is  a  Baptist,  as  are  all  of  the  members  of  his  fam- 
ily. It  has  been  his  privilege  to  make  two  trips  to  liis  Fatherland,  where  he 
has  numerous  friends. 

In  1853  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hebenthal  and  Caroline  Meise,  of  Witten- 
berg. Germany,  was  celebrated.  Their  eldest  child,  Kliod.'i.  married  Evan 
Myers,  who  is  in  the  dairy  business  at  Cape  May;  Katie  is  the  wife  of  R.  S. 
Hand,  a  retired  cigar  dealer,  and  their  two  children  are  Alice  and  Carrie; 
Henry  and  Rachel  are  at  home;  and  William  is  an  expressman.  He  wedded 
Reba  Vance,  by  whom  he  has  three  children. — William,  James  and  Cathe- 
rine. The  younger  children  of  our  subject — Louis.  Anna.  Frank,  Harry  and 
Herbert — are  still  living  at  their  parental  home. 


F.  P.  CANFIELD. 


Real  estate  and  insurance  business  is  a  most  important  factor  in  the 
material  prosperity  of  a  community.  A  casual  observer  can  form  no  con- 
ception of  the  important  position  held  by  the  active,  enterprising  agent  de- 
voted to  the  work  of  buying  and  selling  real  estate,  establishing  values  and 
otherw'ise  stimulating  property-holders  to  the  great  improvements  it  lies 
within  their  power  to  make.  F.  P.  Canfield  is  one  of  this  class.  The  judi- 
cious principles  which  he  upholds  in  his  transactions,  the  competency  with 
which  he  investigates  points  connected  therewith,  are  securing  for  him  a 
large  and  deserved  patronage. 

Mr.  Canfield  was  born  in  Springfield.  Illinois.  April  7,  i860,  his  parents 
being  Henry  Dayton  and  Anna  Garrison  (Canfield)  Canfield.  The  first  of 
the  name  of  whom  we  have  record  was  Thomas  Canfield.  who  came  from 
England  to  America  and  settled  in  Milford.  Massachusetts,  in  1646.  He 
had  a  son  Thomas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years.  His  son  Israel 
Canfield  removed  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  was  the  father  of  Al)raham 
Canfield.  who  located  at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  and  has  twelve  children. 
Robert  Canfield.  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Morristown, 
New  Jersey,  and  was  a  merchant  there.  He  served  as  a  presidential  elector 
in  1826,  casting  his  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  during  the  adininistration 
of  "Old  Hickory"  he  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  appraiser  in  the  cus- 
tom-house at  New  Orleans.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Illinois,  where  he 
purchased  large  tracts  of  land.  He  married  a  Miss  Walton,  who  was  born 
in  1796  and  died  in  1852.    Their  children  were  Robert,  who  resides  in  CaH- 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  381 

fornia;  Henry  D. ;  Isaac,  a  Presbyterian  minister;  and  Charles.  All  lived 
to  advanced  age.  passing  away  between  the  ages  of  seventy-three  and  seventy- 
nine  years. 

Henry  Dayton  Canfield  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  June  28, 
1822,  and  became  an  extensive  farmer  of  Illinois.  He  served  as  a  clerk  in 
the  quartermaster's  department  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  on  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  became  one  of  its  supporters.  In  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, he  met  Abraham  Lincoln  and  promised  to  vote  for  him,  after  which 
he  always  voted  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  his  |)arty.  In  ]\Iay, 
1886,  he  came  to  Ocean  City,  New  Jersey,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
June  2,  1899.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  man  of 
highest  respectability.  In  his  family  were  ten  children,  but  five  died  in 
infancy,  the  others  being  Ruth  Helen;  F.  P.;  Arthur  C  a  florist  of  Illinois; 
Alice  Williams;   and  Harry  H..  who  resides  in  Springfield,  Illinois. 

F.  P.  Canfield.  was  educated  in  Edwards  School,  beneath  the  shadow  of 
the  capitol  buildings  of  his  native  state.  He  put  aside  his  text-books  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  in  order  to  devote  his  energies  to  a  business  career,  and 
for  some  time  conducted  operations  as  a  horticulturist  and  gardener.  He 
also  carried  on  the  dairy  business  here.  Since  his  arrival  in  Ocean  City  in 
1886  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  and  not  only  handles 
property  for  others  but  also  has  some  desirable  realty  holdings  of  his  own. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1893,  Mr.  Canfield  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Brewer,  a  daughter  of  Rufus  Brewer,  of  Germantown,  Pennsylvania.  She 
was  bom  in  Hollister,  Massachusetts,  and  is  a  representative  of  an  old  fam- 
ily whose  ancestors  came  to  America  in  the  Mayflower.  Her  father  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College  and  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  in  Massachusetts,  but  for  some  years  prior  to  his  death  was  a  well 
known  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  He  served  as  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  that  place  and  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1889.  In  his 
family  were  eight  children,  of  whom  six  are  living.  John  was  a  member  of 
the  Second  Pennsylvania  Regiment  in  the  Spanish-American  war  and  served 
at  Santiago,  Cul^a.  Frank  entered  the  \\'anamaker  store  in  Philadelphia  as 
cashier,  and  although  he  is  yet  a  young  man  he  now  occupies  the  most  re- 
sponsible position  in  that  mammoth  mercantile  concern,  being  general  su- 
perintendent. He  is  a  young  man  of  exceptional  ability,  of  marked  execu- 
tive force,  of  studious  habits  and  of  a  religious  nature.  ^lary  is  a  graduate 
of  a  college  in  this  state  and  is  now  a  practicing  physician  of  Germantown, 
Pennsylvania.  Paul  died  in  1889.  Elizabeth  is  the  honored  wife  of  j\Ir. 
Canfield.  Louisa  and  Alice  complete  the  family.  All  of  the  children  were 
provided  with  superior  educational  advantages   and  the  family  is  one   of 


382  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

marked  culture,  refinement  and  intelligence.  Mr.  Canfield  has  been  an  im- 
portant factor  in  pul)lic  affairs,  having  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil and  commissioner  of  appeals  of  the  board  of  education,  while  at  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders.  He  is  serving  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  and  his 
sincere  and  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church  has  made  him  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  support  and  an  active  worker  in  its  behalf. 


FURMAN  H.  LLOYD. 


Furman  Humphries  Lloyd,  farmer  and  proprietor  and  operator  of  the 
Whitestone  Mill,  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  growth  and  business 
interests  of  Salem  for  many  years  and  has  improved  every  opportunity, 
often  making  that  opportunity,  for  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  municipal- 
ity. He  is  a  son  of  Furman  and  Elizabeth  (Shear)  Lloyd,  and  was  born 
April  12,  1850,  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck,  Salem  county.  The  grandfather, 
Furman  Lloyd,  was  a  farmer  of  Upper  Penn's  Neck,  later  moving  to  Lower 
Penn's  Neck  township,  where  he  was  a  constable  of  the  county.  He  was 
of  English  descent,  from  which  race  he  took  his  sturdy,  industrious  traits 
that  have  been  a  characteristic  of  the  family  and  won  them  prosperity. 
His  children  were  John,  Charles,  Benjamin,  Furman,  and  two  that  died 
young.    The  grandmother  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 

Furman  Lloyd,  the  father  of  our  subject,  owned  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck,  where  he  lived  and  prospered  until 
overtaken  by  old  age.  He  was  a  Republican  and  took  an  active  part  in 
politics,  holding  many  local  offices  and,  finding  great  favor  in  the  eyes  of 
the  community.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Shear,  whose  father 
was  a  sea  captain  of  Richmond,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  lost  while  on  one 
of  his  voyages  and  never  returned  to  land.  Their  children  were  John,  a 
farmer  on  the  homstead,  who  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Elkinton,  and  has  four 
children, — Nettie,  Veria,  Mary  and  Lida;  Charles  E.,  who  is  in  the  com- 
mission business  in  Philadelphia  and  has  one  child,  Allen;  Furman,  our 
subject;  Anna  Mary,  who  married  Albert  Dalbon,  a  farmer  of  Alloway 
township,  this  county:  their  children  are  Lizzie.  Kate  and  Alice;  Harriet, 
who  is  unmarried;  and  Ella,  who  married  Samuel  Taylor,  a  farmer  of  Lower 
Penn's  Neck,  and  their  children  are  Eva,  Hallie,  Furman,  Jennie,  Lydia  and 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Lloyd  is  now  in  her  seventy-second  year  and  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  her  faculties  to  a  remarkable  extent.     The  father  reached  the 


^_^,^4^  fe^^^z 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT   OF   NEW   JERSEY.  383 

age  of  seventy-six  years  when  he  laid  down  the  burden  of  life,  August  31, 
1897,  and  was  deeply  mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Furman  H.  Lloyd  attended  district  school  when  a  boy  and  then  assisted 
his  father  with  his  farm  duties  until  1882,  when  he  was  thirty-two  years 
old,  and  then  he  came  to  this  city.  He  engaged  in  baling  and  shipping 
straw  and  hay,  his  market  being  principally  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia, 
and  continued  the  work  on  such  a  profitable  basis  that  in  1891  he  bought 
the  mill  now  operated  by  him.  This  was  the  Whitewater  Mill,  the  oldest 
mill  erected  in  south  Jersey,  the  deed  to  which  was  made  out  March  30, 
1795,  and  was  the  first  deed  recorded  in  Salem  county.  This  building  he 
has  remodeled  and  repaired,  putting  in  steam  power  and  making  it  first- 
class  in  all  respects.  It  has  an  output  of  eighty  barrels  per  day,  and  does 
principally  merchant  work  in  flour  manufacture,  although  Mr.  Lloyd  also 
handles  large  quantities  of  hay,  straw,  coal,  etc.  He  has  three  hay  presses 
in  operation  here,  and  the  branch  store  he  had  at  Atlantic  City  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  May  2,  1899.  He  furnished  a  good  market  for  the  produce 
of  the  farmers  in  the  surrounding  country.  In  addition  to  his  extensive 
business  in  the  city  he  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
Lower  Penn's  Neck,  which  is  under  his  immediate  supervision,  as  he  is 
a  thorough  agriculturist,  and  the  income  derived  from  this  source  is  no 
inconsiderable  sum. 

Mr.  Lloyd  was  united  in  marriage,  in  February,  1883,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Stout,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Julia  (Locuson)  Stout,  farmers  of  Lower 
Penn's  Neck  township.  She  died  May  14,  1899.  Six  children  have  blessed 
the  home,  namely:  Sherwood,  Beulah,  Florence,  Furman,  Elizabeth  and 
Ir\'in,  the  two  last  mentioned  being  twins.  Mr.  Lloyd  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican and  has  been  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  local  organizations  and 
served  as  a  delegate  to  various  conventions.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
county  board  of  freeholders  for  two  terms,  or  four  years,  from  1893  to  1896, 
and  previous  to  that,  from  1886  to  1890,  was  the  representative  of  the  West 
ward  in  the  city  council. 


JOHN  R.  GILL. 


John  Rogers  Gill,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Woolwich  township, 
Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  this  township,  October  3,  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Rambo  and  Mary  R.  (Bower)  Gill,  a  grandson  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Rambo)  Gill  and  a  great-grandson  of  Matthew  and 
Magdelene   (Halton)   Gill.     His  grandfather  was  first  married    to    Zillah 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

Batten,  by  whom  he  had  four  children :  John,  who  married  Jane  Wooff  and 
liad  two  sons,  John,  and  Thomas,  who  died  in  childhood,  and  James,  who 
died  in  early  life,  unmarried.  The  children  of  the  second  marriage,  to  Eliza- 
beth Rambo,  were:  Benjamin  Rambo;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  early 
womanhood;  and  George,  who  had  three  children,  Mary,  deceased,  and 
Edward  and  Emma,  who  reside  in  Philadelphia. 

Benjamin  Rambo  Gill  was  born  near  Swedesboro.  New  Jersey,  in  July, 
1804;  removed  to  Delaware  in  1841,  and  died  in  Delaware  City  in  1881. 
His  children  were:  Elijah,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  John  Rogers, 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch;  Asher  Bower,  of  Philadelphia,  who 
married  Alargaret  Fisher  Thompson,  now  deceased,  and  by  her  had  two  chil- 
dren.— Margaret  Fisher  and  Benjamin  Rambo;  Edmund  W..  who  at  the 
age  of  ten  years  was  thrown  from  a  horse  and  killed;  Elizabeth  Ruth,  the 
widow  of  William  Carroll,  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  by  whom  she  had  these 
children:  Benjamin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  Sarah,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Camden;  ]\Iary.  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years; 
George  Norman,  who  was  born  in  1839  and  died  in  ]\Iiddletown,  Delaware, 
May  31,  1898:  he  married  Adelaide  Lore,  a  niece  of  Judge  Lore  of  Wil- 
mington, Delaware,  and  by  her  had  one  child,  Adelaide,  who  married 
Horatio  Nelson  Crane,  of  Sparrows  Point,  Maryland.  George  Norman 
married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  Drummond,  a  daughter  of  John  Drum- 
mond,  of  Middletown,  Delaware,  by  whom  he  had  five  children, — Florence, 
John  Drummond.  Efl^a.  Mary  and  George  Norman;  Benjamin  Snow,  who 

married  Virginia .  of  Virginia,  lived  in  Townsend,  Delaware, 

and  had  five  children. — Mary.  Walter,  Augustus,  Catherine  and  Henry; 
Anna  Theodotia.  who  married  James  Bradley  and  lived  in  Chestertown, 
Maryland,  and  had  no  children;  Lewis,  deceased,  who  married  Catherine 
Tolson,  also  now  deceased,  and  had  no  children;  and  Elijah  Bower,  who 
lived  in  Townsend.  Delaware,  married  Lydia  Daniels,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren.— Mary,  deceased,  Susan,  William,  also  deceased,  and  Louis. 

John  Rogers  Gill  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  \\'oolwich 
township  and  the  public  schools  and  academy  of  ^Middletown.  Delaware, 
and  from  early  boyhood  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of 
tw-enty-one  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  near  Middletown,  Delaware, 
where  he  continued  for  twelve  years.  He  then  went  to  Kent  county.  Mary- 
land, where  he  took  charge  of  a  farm  of  640  acres  belonging  to  a  son  of  ex- 
Governor  Cochran,  and  carried  on  operations  there  until  1884.  That  year 
he  purchased  of  William  String  his  present  farm,  to  which  he  has  since 
added,  by  purchase,  thirteen  acres,  making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres.     Since  he  took  possession  of  this  place  he  has  remodeled  the  house 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  385 

and  other  buildings  and  beautified  the  lawn,  until  now  he  has  one  of  the 
finest  country  homes  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Gill  was  married,  March  23,  1852,  to  Sarah  Elizabeth  Fisher  Gilfrey, 
a  daughter  of  John  Gilfrey,  who  went  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death.  She  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  lived  with  her  uncle,  who  was  the  rector  of  St.  Ann's 
church,  Middletown,  Delaware.  She  died  May  23,  1872.  Their  children 
were:  Henry  Triglone,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years;  Mary  EHzabeth, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Alexander  Kennedy,  of  Kennedyville,  Kent  county, 
Maryland,  and  has  ten  children, — Henry,  Robert,  Ada  (deceased),  Herbert, 
Mary,  Marguerite,  Lloyd,  John  Rogers,  Clarence  and  Wilson;  Clara,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  George  Law,  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia, 
who  married  Rebecca  Garrison,  of  Swedesboro;  Margaret  Fisher  Harold, 
who  married  Elijah  Dallett  Bower  and  has  three  children  living, — EHjah 
Dallett,  Mary  Devereaux  and  Emily  Catherine;  Charles,  who  was  a  deputy 
sheriff  of  Kent  county,  Maryland,  and  in  1899  Democratic  candidate  for 
sheriff,  and  who  married  Ada  Hepborn,  a  daughter  of  ex-State  Senator 
William  T.  Hepborn,  of  Kennedyville,  Maryland,  their  children  being  Hep- 
born,  Frank,  Charles  Lee  and  an  infant.  John  R.  Gill  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time  October  31,  1877,  when  CNIiss  Arabella  Locke  became  his  wife. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Locke,  of  Swedesboro,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 17,  1897.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1899,  Mr.  Gill  was  again  married, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Emma  B.  Hewes,  of  Swedesboro,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  B.  and  Rebecca  Hewes. 

Mr.  Gill  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Kennedyville  Grange,  the  second 
grange  organized  in  the  state  of  Maryland,  was  its  secretary  for  several  years 
and  afterward  withdrew  from  the  organization.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  has  always  taken  a  laudable  interest  in  public  aft'airs  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  ofiice. 


LEWIS  S.  STANGER. 


Lewis  S.  Stanger,  one  of  the  enterprising  and  honorable  merchants  of 
the  city  of  Glassboro,  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  the  place  just  named,  Octo- 
ber 9,  1848,  the  son  of  Simon  \\'.  Stanger,  a  native  of  the  same  town.  His 
father  was  Lewis  S.,  born  in  Germany.  He  went  to  Allowavstown  and 
rented  a  glass-factory,  in  which  was  made  the  first  glass  manufactured  in 
this  country.  Simon  \\'.  Stanger  was  a  glass-blower  and  worked  for  the 
Whitney  Glass  Company  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years,  and  then  was  with 

II— Y 


386  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

the  window-glass  company  of  Warwick  &  Stanger.  of  Temperancetown,  for 
another  fourteen  years.  He  died  in  1879.  He  was  a  prominent  man  and 
held  many  of  the  local  offices  of  his  locality.  He  served  as  a  class-leader  of 
the  Protestant  Methodist  church,  in  which  religious  body  he  also  held  other 
offices.  He  also  took  great  interest  in  Sunday-school  work,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  superintendent.  He  married  Ann  Pierce,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Pierce:  she  died  in  1857.  Of  their  children,  only  two  are  now  living: 
Lewis  S.,  our  subject,  and  Charles  E.,  of  Michigan. 

Our  subject  attended  the  village  schools  and  later  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  after  which  for  two  years  he 
was  employed  by  the  Warwick  &  Stanger  Glass  Company.  He  conducted  a 
store  at  Millville  for  a  year  and  was  then  engaged  in  the  produce  and  com- 
mission business  at  Philadelphia  for  six  years.  We  next  find  him  tilling  the 
soil  in  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  at  which  he  continued  for  four  years. 
He  then  spent  five  years  in  Whitney  &  Company's  glass-store,  and  in  1890 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  assistant  manager  in  the  yards  of  the  Whit- 
ney glass-works,  and  spent  two  years  at  the  glass-works  near  Bridgeton.  In 
August,  1898,  he  returned  to  Glassboro  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade, 
his  present  business. 

Politically,  Mr.  Stanger  is  a  Republican.  He  was  elected  a  freeholder, 
serving  four  years,  and  is  now  on  the  first  year  of  his  second  term.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge,  in  which  order  he  has  passed  all 
the  official  chairs.  December  22,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Christiana  S.  New- 
bern,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Newbern.  of  Glassboro.  One 
child  has  blessed  their  home,  Walter  F.  Stanger. 


THE  WELSH   FAMILY. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  century  the  Welsh  family  has  been 
connected  with  the  history  of  Gloucester  county,  for  in  181 2  John  Welsh 
came  from  Crosswicks  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  what  is  now  South  Swedesboro,  Gloucester  county.  His  residence 
thereon  was  built  by  John  Hatten  some  time  prior  to  the  Revolutionary- 
war.  Mr.  Hatten  came  to  America  from  Canterbury,  England,  to  collect 
taxes  in  west  Jersey  for  an  English  official.  His  property  w'as  confiscated  in 
1778  and  passed  into  possession  of  Dr.  Strattan,  who  sold  it  to  Dr.  Francis 
Hoover,  from  whom  it  was  purchased  by  John  Welsh.  The  house  still 
bears  the  mark  of  British  ownership  in  the  heavy  lion-head  knocker  on  the 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  387 

front  door.  The  farm  portion  of  tlie  property  has  been  sold,  liut  the  resi- 
dence, within  a  large  lawn,  is  still  occupied  by  Miss  Lucy  A.  Welsh. 

John  Welsh  was  a  son  of  Peter  and  Anna  (Barnes)  Welsh,  the  former  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  while  the  latter  had  several  uncles  who  were  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  one  of  them  being  a  captain,  while  another  was  among 
the  prisoners  that  were  sent  to  Nova  Scotia  with  the  British.  John  Welsh 
married  Miss  Mary  Watson,  a  daughter  of  John  Watson,  a  surveyor  resid- 
ing near  Trenton,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  namely: 
Watson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years;  Charles,  who  was  a 
sailor  going  on  whaling  vessels  and  was  last  heard  from  just  before  the 
civil  war;  William,  who  was  a  bookkeeper  for  Morgan  &  Buck,  of  Phila- 
delphia, from  1830  until  1854,  and  thereafter  resided  with  his  younger  sis- 
ter, Mary,  and  a  half-sister,  Lucy,  in  Swedesboro,  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1888.  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  eighty-two  years;  George, 
who  dietl  in  Austin,  Texas,  of  yellow  fever;  and  Mary,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Welsh  wedded  Miss  Abigail  Kates,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children:  Mary,  who  died  in  1889;  and  Lucy  Anna,  who  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  family. 

John  Welsh  was  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  his  time  in  south- 
ern New  Jersey,  and  accumulated  a  handsome  fortune.  In  politics  he  was 
an  active  Whig,  and  when  Governor  Strattan  went  from  Swedesboro  to 
Trenton  to  take  the  office  of  chief  executive  he  rode  with  Mr.  Welsh  in  the 
latter's  carriage.  In  the  sense  of  office-seeking,  however,  Mr.  Welsh  was 
never  a  politician,  but  to  the  principles  in  which  he  believed  he  gave  an 
earnest  support.  He  died  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  They  were  people  of 
high  respectability,  prominent  in  social  circles,  and  at  all  times  held  in  great 
regard  for  their  excellencies  of  character.  The  family  have  all  been  mem- 
bers and  liberal  supporters  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  of  Swedesboro. 
Miss  Welsh  still  occupies  the  family  homestead,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  residences  in  Gloucester  county.  She  is  a  lady  of  refined  tastes  and 
charitable  disposition,  and  besides  having  many  close  friends  worthy  of 
the  name  she  enjoys  the  high  esteem  of  all  her  acquaintances,  and  the  circle 
is  extensive. 


J.  J.  ELDRIDGE. 


J.  J.  Eldridge.  recently  a  central  committeeman  for  Monroe  township, 
Gloucester  county,  resides  on  his  farm  near  the  town  of  Williamstown.  and  is 
ranked  with  the  representative  farmers  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  hi° 


388  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

township.  He  was  born  in  the  house  in  whicli  lie  now  lives,  Septeml^er  lo, 
1846,  and  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life,  living  upon 
his  present  farm,  a  tract  of  forty-seven  acres,  and  raising  a  variety  of  crops 
common  to  this  locality.  Politically  Mr.  Eldridge  has  always  given  his  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party  and  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  affairs. 
He  was  first  elected  a  member  of  the  township  committee  in  1894,  and  for 
ten  years,  until  January,  1900,  he  was  the  central  committeeman  for  the 
township.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the  A.  O.  U.  \\' .,  of  which  lie  is  a 
past  master. 

Mr.  Eldridge  was  married  in  1873,  to  Miss  Kate  B.  Stewart,  a  daughter 
of  Captain  Charles  H.  Stewart,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  ship  captain  sail- 
ing between  Philadelphia  and  New  York  on  the  Ericson  line.  During  the 
mining  excitement  in  California  he  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  and  there  made 
a  fortune.  Returning  to  the  East,  Captain  Stewart  purchased  the  ferry  at 
Gloucester,  which  he  owned  for  many  }-ears.  He  also  purchased  a  farm  in 
Williamstown  in  i860,  and  ]i\ed  here  for  a  time,  but  afterward  returned  to 
Gloucester.  Later,  however,  he  came  back  to  Williamstown  where  he  died 
in  1887,  in  his  seventy-second  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldridge  are  the  parents 
of  three  children,  all  daughters,  namely:  Edna,  the  wife  of  Daviil  Loughlin, 
of  Williamstown;   and  Helen  and  Estelle,  at  home. 


FRANK  LUERSSEX. 


Frank  Luerssen,  a  druggist,  is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Salem, 
and  is  a  son  of  Francis  George  and  Hannah  (Leiper)  Luerssen.  He  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  where  his  parents  are  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens.  The  father  came  to  this  country  from  Bremen, 
Germany,  and  located  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  won 
the  respect  and  good  will  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  He  is  especially 
popular  among  the  German  people,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  their  various 
societies  and  founding  the  Turn  Verein  of  that  city.  He  opened  a  wholesale 
tobacco  and  cigar  store  soon  after  settling  there,  and  has  been  so  success- 
ful that  he  still  continues  in  that  line  of  business.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Hannah  Leiper,  whose  father.  Christian  Leiper,  came  to  this 
country  in  1846,  from  Brunswick,  Germany,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to 
settle  in  Penn's  Neck  township.  He  had  been  a  burgomeister  in  Germany, 
but  turned  to  other  means  of  earning  a  livelihood  after  coming  to  America. 
He  was  a  zealous  Presbyterian  and  a  good  man. 

Frank    Luerssen    attended   the    grammar   schools    of   his    native    city, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  389 

and  then  entered  the  drug  store  of  C.  E.  Harnchen,  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Philadelphia,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  there  until  he  was  conversant 
■with  the  drug-  business,  graduating  at  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Phar- 
macy in  1880.  Later  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  spent  nine 
years  in  the  same  business  and  gained  much  valuable  experience,  having 
charge  of  the  largest  store  in  the  city.  Coming  to  Salem  he  became  the 
successor  to  Clement  Kelly  and  has  conducted  the  most  popular  drug  store 
in  the  city  since.  He  carries  the  largest  and  most  complete  line  of  drugs  to 
be  found  in  southern  New  Jersey  and  enjoys  an  extended  patronage  among 
the  best  class  of  people.  He  owns  several  valuable  business  blocks  besides 
having  an  interest  in  the  hotel.  His  block  is  a  large  three-story  building, 
containing  an  oilice,  parlors,  reception  rooms  and  twenty  sleeping  rooms,  all 
furnished  in  elegant  taste.  The  dining-room  will  accommodate  seventy-five 
guests,  and  the  menu  comprises  the  best  viands  prepared  in  the  most  appe- 
tizing manner.  The  bar  is  supplied  with  the  best  brands  of  wines,  liquors, 
cigars,  etc.,  while  a  large  yard  for  carriages  and  a  large  livery  and  boarding 
stable,  with  a  capacity  for  thirty  head  of  horses,  is  connected  with  the 
hotel  and  at  the  disposal  of  the  guests.  The  Schaefer  House  is  supplied 
with  incandescent  electric  lights  and  all  modern  metropolitan  conveniences 
which  will  add  to  the  comfort  of  the  guests;  and  the  traveling  public  have 
not  been  slow  to  appreciate  the  fact,  as  is  shcAvn  by  the  large  patronage 
accorded  the  house. 

Mr.  Luerssen  is  a  member  of  the  Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  54,  F.  A.  M.; 
Brearley  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M.,  and  the  Olivet  Commandery,  No.  10, 
Knight  Templars;  and  he  is  a  Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Philadelphia. 
Also  he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  other  societies.  He 
is  the  vice-president  of  the  Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Bank  and  a  man  of 
superior  business  qualifications.  In  politics  he  is  independent.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  the  Pennsylvania  regiment  and  for  fifteen 
years  was  the  hospital  steward  of  that  regiment. 


R.  S.  MOORE. 


Glassboro  boasts  of  numerous  sterling,  progressive  lousiness  men.  and 
of  these  R.  S.  Moore  stands  in  the  front  rank.  The  character  of  a  town  is 
necessarily  determined  largely  by  the  attitude  of  its  representative  business 
men  upon  all  local  affairs,  and  if,  like  Rip  Van  Winkle,  they  retire  to  rest, 
while  the  busy  world  rushes  on  toward  progress  and  advancement,  the  place 
in  which  their  destinv  is  cast  falls  behind  in  the  race. 


390  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

As  far  back  as  the  Moore  family  can  be  traced,  it  has  been  noted  for 
wide-awake,  aml)itious  memljers,  always  ready  to  perform  their  share  toward 
the  public  welfare.  Five  brothers  of  the  name  came  to  America  from  Scot- 
land during  colonial  days,  and  from  them  a  numerous  posterity  has  de- 
scended. One  of  the  number,  James  D.,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
a  man  of  prominence  and  genius.  Acknowledged  to  be  an  expert  as  a  civil 
engineer,  he  was  employed  by  this  government  and  drew  the  plans  for  the 
aqueduct  at  Washington,  District  of  Columbia.  For  a  long  period  he  was 
in  the  patent  office  at  the  capital,  and  later  he  carried  on  a  large  iron  business 
in  Baltimore.  In  that  city  his  son  Thomas  T.  w-as  born  and  reared  to  man- 
hood. He  became  a  merchant  there,  and  also  in  Philadelphia,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  carried  on  a 
farm.  At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  yet  a  resident 
of  the  old  Dominion,  but  he  soon  joined  the  Union  forces,  and  ser\ed  as 
chief  clerk  in  the  commissary  department  of  the  federal  army.  At  last  he 
was  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and  for  thirteen 
months  he  suffered  the  tortures  of  Libby  and  Salisbury  prisons.  During  the 
last  years  of  his  career  he  was  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio.  He  was  summoned  to  his  reward  in  1878.  In  his  religious  be- 
lief he  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  his  daily  life  was  an 
exemplification  of  the  noble  principles  of  that  sect.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Francis  Cather,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  David  Gather,  a  native 
of  Dundee,  Scotland,  died  June,  1899.  Of  her  eight  children  six  are  living. 
R.  S.  Moore  is  the  eldest  of  the  children,  and  the  others  in  order  of  birth  are: 
Laura;  James  Prescott,  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  James  A.,  of  Raven  Rock. 
Ohio;  Mary,  the  wife  of  James  D.  Hart;  Charles,  a  resident  of  the  state  of 
Washington;  Annie,  wife  of  John  Askey,  of  Baltimore;  and  Edward,  of 
Washington. 

R.  S.  Moore  was  born  near  Winchester,  Virginia,  February  17,  1849, 
and  attended  the  local  schools,  there  laying  the  foundations  of  his  later  edu- 
cation. For  some  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  government  as  a 
draughtsman,  and  subsequently  he  clerked  in  a  store  in  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land. In  1866  he  came  to  this  county  and  learned  the  tinsmith's  trade  at 
Newfield.  Then  he  worked  for  some  time  in  Philadelphia;  but,  returning  to 
Newfield  in  1874,  he  started  in  business  on  his  own  account,  selling  stoves 
and  tinware.  In  1878  he  became  a  citizen  of  Glassboro,  where  he  has  con- 
ducted a  store  similar  to  the  one  he  owned  at  Newfield.  He  has  occupied 
several  local  offices  and  is  a  true  friend  of  the  Republican  party.  A  Knight 
of  Pythias,  he  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  town  lodge,  and  is  highly 
esteemed  in  the  brotherhood. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  391 

In  1867  Mr.  Moore  wedded  Miss  Emma  A.  Mendum,  a  daughter  of 
James  D.  Mendum,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  They  are  the  parents  of  six 
children,  namely:  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Max  Newman,  of  Vineland,  New  Jer- 
sey; Clarence  P.,  of  Jersey  City;  Bertha  A.;  Howard,  Olive  and  Edna. 
The  two  sons  are  in  the  United  States  mail  service.  The  two  younger  ones 
are  yet  at  home,  and,  with  their  parents,  are  much  respected  members  of  the 
community. 

The  Mendum  family  is  of  English  ancestry  and  early  located  in  New 
England,  where  its  members  have  been  numerous  and  prominent.  The  first 
American  ancestor  of  this  particular  line  now  remembered  was  John  Men- 
dum, a  native  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
vocation  and  one  of  the  earliest  Universalists  in  his  religious  views.  He  died 
when  about  sixty  years  old.  All  of  his  children — John,  Mary,  Luke,  Em- 
eline,  Caroline,  James  D.,  and  George — attained  mature  years.  James  D. 
Mendum,  above  mentioned,  was  born  September  14,  1826,  learned  black- 
smithing  and  for  years  was  employed  on  the  numerous  ships  constructed  at 
the  ship  and  navy  yards  of  Newbury  port  and  Boston.  In  1849,  after  a  resi- 
dence in  Boston  of  seventeen  years,  he  married  Caroline  A.  Dodge,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Abigail  Dodge.  The  Dodge  family  has  been  resident  in 
New  England  from  early  Colonial  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mendum  were 
parents  of  two  children,  Emma  A.  (Mrs.  R.  S.  Moore)  and  Charles,  who  re- 
sides in  North  Vineland,  New  Jersey.  In  May,  1866,  Mr.  Mendum  removed 
from  Boston  to  Newfield,  New  Jersey,  and  bought  a  farm,  which  he  culti- 
vated until  his  failing  health  caused  him  to  cease.  He  and  his  wife  then 
made  their  home  in  Glassboro  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore.  Mr.  Mendum 
died  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  on  November  30,  1895.  Mrs.  Mendum  sur- 
vives him,  and  is  in  good  health  of  mind  and  body.  Both  of  them  have  been 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  for  many  years. 


LUCIUS  E.  HIRES. 


Lucius  E.  Hires  is  a  native  of  Salem  county,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Quinton,  on  the  29th  of  August,  i860.  His  parents  were  the  Hon.  George 
and  Elizabeth  Keasby  (Plummer)  Hires.  His  preliminary  education,  ac- 
quired in  the  schools  of  Quinton  and  Salem,  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
in  Swathmore  College,  and  on  laying  aside  his  text-books  he  took  up  the 
more  difficult  lessons  of  a  practical  business  life,  becoming  a  clerk  in  his 
father's  store  in  Quinton.  There  he  remained  until  1884,  gaining  a  good 
knowledge  of  business  methods  and  procedure.     On  leaving  the  mercantile 


392  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

estal)lishment  he  became  associated  with  Robert  S.  Fogg,  in  the  firm  of 
Fogg  &  Hires,  and  embarked  in  the  canning  business.  From  the  begin- 
ning success  attended  the  new  enterprise,  and  their  trade  has  constantly  in- 
creased in  volume  and  importance  until  they  are  now  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  leading  industries  of  New  Jersey.  The  firm  name  was  changed  to  the 
Fogg  &  Hires  Company  in  1895,  which  name  is  a  familiar  one  in  the  world 
of  trade  and  is  a  synonym  for  reliable  dealing.  They  can  a  superior  grade 
of  tomatoes  and  the  excellence  of  their  product  insures  them  a  very  liberal 
patronage.  In  fact  their  business  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  three 
factories  are  required  to  supply  the  demand,  and  the  goods  are  sent  through- 
out a  wide  area.  The  factory  at  Quinton  furnishes  employment  to  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  hands  during  the  busy  season,  while  a  similar  number  is  found 
in  the  factory  at  Fennsville;  and  the  factory  at  Hancock's  Bridge,  purchased 
by  them  in  1897.  gives  work  to  two  hundred  employes,  making  an  aggre- 
grate  of  seven  hundred.  The  importance  to  the  community  of  this  business 
may  easily  be  judged,  for  it  not  only  furnishes  a  means  of  living  to  hundreds 
of  famihes  but  also  furnishes  a  market  for  many  gardeners  and  adds  to  the 
commercial  activity  through  its  large  shipping  business. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1883,  Mr.  Hires  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Bessie  R.,  a  daughter  of  Robert  McKinley,  of  Philadelphia.  Their 
children  are  Clementine  P.,  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  Anna  S.  Their 
pleasant  home  in  Salem  is  the  center  of  a  cultured  society  circle  and  they 
have  hosts  of  warm  friends.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hires  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  active  and  influential  in  the  ranks  of  the  party.  He  served  as  deputy 
internal  revenue  collector  of  the  first  district  of  New  Jersey  from  1888  until 
1890,  but  resigned  during  his  third  year.  He  is  very  popular  as  a  citizen  and 
in  social  and  business  circles,  and  enjoys  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
is  brought  in  contact. 


WILLIAM  A.  WOOD. 


Hon.  William  A.  Wood,  ex-judge  of  common  pleas  and  one  of  the  solid 
men  of  Salem  county,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Whig  Lane,  Upper  Pitts- 
grove  township,  Salem  county.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  adjoining  that  on 
which  he  now  resides,  on  December  29,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Harriet  (Richmond)  Wood.  Charles  was  born  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
our  subject,  or  the  one  adjoining,  and  was  himself  a  large  land-owner,  having 
in  his  possession  thirteen  hundred  acres. 

His  father  was  Jeremiah  Wood,  one  of  four  brothers  who  came  to  this 
country  from  Sweden  and  settled  in  New  Jersey,  one  in  Woodstown,  this 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  393 

county,  one  at  Mount  Holly,  one  at  Greenwich,  Cumberland  county,  and 
one  at  Woodbury.  In  addition  to  carrying  on  his  extensive  farming  opera- 
tions he  also  conducted  a  store,  as  did  his  father  before  him.  This  store  and 
eight  or  nine  hundred  acres  of  land  owned  by  them  are  still  in  the  possession 
of  the  family.  He  was  a  strict  Presbyterian  and  a  trustee  of  the  church. 
The  advantages  for  an  education  had  been  very  limited,  but  he  developed  a 
shrewd  and  keen  perception  that  made  him  one  of  the  best  business  men  in 
this  part  of  the  state.  He  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to 
Miss  Harriet  Richmond,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  who  is  the  subject  of 
this  biography.  The  father  of  ^Irs.  Wood  was  Nehemiah  Richmond,  who 
resided  in  this  neighborhood.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  was  held  a  prisoner  in  New  York  harbor  by  the  British.  His  first  service 
in  this  war  was  voluntary,  and  after  his  time  had  expired  a  younger  brother 
was  drafted.  Thinking  him  too  young  to  serve,  Nehemiah  went  as  that 
brother's  substitute.  Charles  Wood  died  in  October,  1877.  and  his  wife  in 
March,  1899. 

Judge  Wood  attended  the  common  schools  when  a  lad  and  then  entered 
Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  at  which  he  graduated  in  1848, 
with  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  later  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  the 
same  institution.  He  then  entered  the  office  of  Judge  Washington  McCart- 
ney, of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  with  whom  he  studied  law.  This  Judge  was 
the  professor  of  mathematics  at  Lafayette  when  Judge  Woods  was  a  stu- 
dent there,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Northampton  county,  that  state, 
during  the  January  term,  185 1.  After  remaining  there  a  few  months  he 
went  on  a  trip  through  the  western  states,  and  upon  his  return  home  became 
associated  in  business  with  his  father.  In  1855  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  Easton,  and  seven  years  later  returned  to  Whig  Lane  and 
conducted  a  store  at  this  place  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  centurj',  selling  in  1888 
to  his  son.  Judge  Wood  then  returned  to  his  farm  of  three  hundred  acres, 
a  small  portion  of  which  he  cultivates,  the  remainder  being  rented  out  to 
tenants. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Sabina  Snider,  of  Easton,  who  died  in  1867, 
leaving  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  They  are  Harry  A.  and 
Harriet,  at  home;  and  William,  who  is  employed  in  New  York  in  the  rail- 
road business.  The  second  wife  of  our  subject  was  Miss  Sarah  Richmond, 
a  daughter  of  Ewalt  Richmond,  of  Woodstown,  to  whom  he  was  united  on 
February  29,  1872,  and  who  died  fourteen  years  later.  Six  children  were 
the  result  of  this  marriage:  Herbert,  in  Philadelphia;  and  Leon,  Lillian, 
Bessie,  Florence  and  Sarah,  all  at  home. 

Judge  Wood  was  appointed  a  judge  of  common  pleas  in  1882  and  held 


394  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

the  office  fourteen  years.  In  1872  he  was  the  grand  marshal  of  the  state 
for  thp  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a  man  whose  influence  has  been  widely  felt  as  a 
power  for  good.  He  inspires  confidence  and  respect  by  his  dignified  bear- 
ing and  sound  logic,  while  his  genial  good  nature  has  won  for  him  the  love 
and  esteem  of  all  who  have  come  under  his  influence.  He  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat  and  held  a  number  of  local  offices,  the  first  being  as  town- 
ship superintendent  of  schools  in  1S51.  He  was  then  elected  a  freeholder 
and  the  countv  collector,  holding  each  office  two  vears. 


ROBERT  FISHER. 


One  of  the  best  known  real-estate  dealers  and  progressive  business  men 
numbered  among  the  representatives  of  the  commercial  interests  of  Ocean 
City  is  Robert  Fisher,  who  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  the 
United  States,  is  broad  and  cosmopolitan  in  his  views  and  work,  in  his 
perceptions  of  the  needs  of  the  city  which  has  reached  that  period  in  its 
development  when  every  move  exerts  a  telling  influence  on  the  future,  and 
thus  his  energies  l)Oth  in  public  and  private  life  have  been  directed  toward 
the  consummation  of  the  success  which  can  arise  only  from  wise  adminis- 
tration of  official  prerogatives  and  from  a  careful  conduct  of  business  afYairs. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  real-estate  agents  to  locate  in  the  city  and  is  now 
one  of  the  representative  dealers  here.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
largest  sales  of  lots  that  have  ever  taken  place  on  the  island;  his  business 
interests  are  therefore  very  closely  interwoven  with  the  histor\'  of  the  city, 
while  his  knowledge  of  locations  and  values  is  of  vast  benefit  to  purchasers. 

The  record  of  his  life  cannot  fail  to  prove  of  interest  to  the  readers  of 
this  volume.  He  was  born  February  24,  1848,  in  the  county  of  Antrim, 
province  of  Ulster,  Ireland,  his  parents  being  James  and  Isabella  (Hume) 
Fisher.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  origin,  but  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
John  Fisher,  was  a  farmer  of  county  Antrim  and  was  a  member  of  a 
yeomanry  company  of  cavalry  in  the  rebellion  of  1798.  During  his  military 
service  he  participated  in  a  number  of  hard-fought  engagements.  He  had 
two  children:  Charlotte,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Tolerton,  a  farmer 
of  the  Emerald  isle;  and  James.  The  latter  was  born  in  1791,  became  an 
agriculturist  of  county  Antrim  and  held  a  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Isabella  Hume,  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  Earl  William  Hume,  and  they  had  eight  children:  Hume, 
who  died  in  childhood,  John,  Anna,  William,  Isabella,  ^lary,  Robert  and 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  395 

Hume.  The  father  of  these  children  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  and  the  mother  passed  away  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 

Robert  Fisher,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  was  educated  in  the  na- 
tional schools  of  Ireland  and  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  at  Belfast,  being 
graduated  in  the  latter  institution.  He  then  accepted  the  position  of  wine 
agent  for  the  firm  of  Dunville  &  Company,  extensive  merchants  of  Belfast, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  for  six  years.  He  then  came  to  the  United 
States,  in  1868,  locating  first  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  whence  he  removed  to 
Ocean  City,  February  22,  1880.  He  was  for  four  years  the  local  secretary 
and  agent  of  the  Ocean  City  Association,  in  charge  of  their  real-estate  in- 
terests at  this  place.  He  then  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  for  him- 
self. As  the  agent  for  the  association  he  sold  many  plats  of  land  in  the 
island.  He  has  been  in  one  way  and  another  identified  with  almost  all  the 
important  real-estate  deals  that  have  taken  place  since  his  arrival  in  Ocean 
City.  He  is  a  ver\'  extensive  real-estate  operator,  both  buying  and  selling, 
and  has  just  completed  the  largest  sale  made  in  Ocean  City  during  the  year 
1899.  He  has  extensive  property  holdings  of  his  own,  among  which  is  the 
Bourse  building,  and  he  conducts  the  leading  drug  store  in  Ocean  City, 
located  in  the  Bourse  Ijuilding.  in  which  also  his  large  and  attractive  ofifices 
are  found. 

In  July,  1868,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Fisher  and  ]\Iiss  Lizzie 
Swindell  Graham,  a  daughter  of  Gerald  Graham,  of  county  Fermanagh.  Ire- 
land. Two  children  have  been  born  to  them,  Anna  Hume  and  \^ictor  Stan- 
ley. 

In  politics  -Mr.  Fisher  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  served  as  the  mayor 
of  Ocean  City  in  1894-5,  his  administration  resulting  greatly  to  the  benefit 
of  the  town  and  the  promotion  of  its  leading  interests.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Ocean  City  and  was  the 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school;  he  was  also  a  steward,  trustee  and 
exhorter  in  the  church.  The  First  Presbyterian  church  at  this  place  stands 
in  evidence  of  his  interest  in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  for  it  was  built  as  the 
result  of  his  efiforts.  In  July,  1897,  he  undertook  the  work,  personally 
soliciting  the  money  for  the  building  fund,  and  as  a  member  of  the  building 
committee  he  had  entire  charge  of  the  building  operations.  Within  three 
weeks  of  the  time  he  started  out  with  his  subscription  paper  he  had  a  church, 
and  sen-ice  was  conducted  on  the  third  Sunday. 

In  manner  Air.  Fisher  is  cordial  and  genial.  The  characteristics  of  his 
parentage  are  shown  in  the  happy  blending  of  the  versatility  of  the  wit  and 
genius  of  the  land  of  the  shamrock  and  the  shrewd  economy  of  the  fore- 


396  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

sight  of  that  of  the  thistle.  With  the  advantage  of  talents  amounting  to 
genius,  and  with  an  inherent  brilliancy  and  versatility  of  mind  that  rests 
only  with  the  reward  of  high  achievement,  Mr.  Fisher's  continued  success  is 
established,  while  no  more  glowing  tribute  can  be  paid  than  that  his  emi- 
nence has  been  reached  bv  the  exercise  of  his  own  abilities. 


WARREX  ATKINSON. 


Among  the  enterprising  citizens  who  have  done  much  to  promote  the 
agricultural  interests  of  New  Jersey,  Warren  Atkinson  is  prominent.  Prog- 
ress, consecutive  and  marked,  has  characterized  the  agricultural  interests  of 
the  land,  and  in  no  country  has  such  wonderful  improvement  been  made 
either  in  the  methods  of  farming  or  in  the  machinery  with  which  the  work 
is  prosecuted.  In  this  respect  America  has  led  the  world  and  her  example 
has  been  followed  by  all  civilized  nations,  while  her  agricultural  implements 
have  not  only  revolutionized  farming  methods  in  our  own  country  but  also 
in  the  old  world.  Mr.  Atkinson  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  of 
New  Jersey,  and  his  investigation  and  experiments  in  the  use  of  fertilizers 
have  been  of  great  practical  benefit  throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 
His  property  is  located  in  a  very  rich  and  productive  tract,  and  the  Cherry 
Lawn  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  desirable  in  southern  New  Jersey. 

Mr.  Atkinson  was  born  on  his  farm,  which  has  been  in  possession  of  the 
family  throughout  an  entire  century.  He  represents  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  substantial  families  of  the  state,  its  founder  in  America  having  been 
William  Atkinson,  who  in  1683  left  his  home  in  England  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  the  new  world,  taking  up  his  abode  in  Burlington  county.  New 
Jersey.  His  son  John  was  the  father  of  Samuel  Atkinson,  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject.  The  grandfather,  John  Atkinson,  took  up  his  resi- 
dence upon  the  Cherry  Lawn  farm  in  179S  and  here  made  his  home  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1837.  His  birth  had  occurred  in  Burlington 
county,  in  1756,  and  therefore  he  had  attained  an  advanced  age  when  called 
to  his  final  rest.  Like  his  ancestors,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends. 

George  T.  Atkinson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  the  Cherry 
Lawn  farm,  in  1810,  and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
citizens  in  the  community.  Prior  to  the  war  he  strongly,  espoused  the 
cause  of  anti-slavery,  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote  that  work,  and  always 
entertained  at  his  home  the  abolition  speakers  who  visited  this  neighbor- 
hood to  address  the  people  upon  that  all-important  theme.  Anna  Dickin- 
son came  to  Alullica  Hill  and  made  her  first  speech  under  his  auspices. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  397 

She  was  then  only  seventeen  years  of  age  and  was  employed  in  the  mint 
in  Philadelphia.  After  the  war,  when  the  cause  for  which  he  had  labored 
so  earnestly  had  been  adopted  through  the  laws  of  the  land,  he  was  active 
in  promoting  the  work  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau,  and  subsequently  he 
gave  a  hearty  support  to  the  Prohibition  movement  and  voted  with  the 
party  which  advocates  the  abolition  of  the  liquor  traffic.  In  his  business 
dealings  he  was  \'ery  successful,  and  his  energy,  diligence  and  close  appli- 
cation brought  him  a  handsome  financial  feturn  for  his  labors.  His  life 
was  a  long,  useful  and  honorable  one,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  he  was  called  to  the  home  beyond.  He  had  long  been  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  did  much  for  the  advancement  of  their 
cause.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Bond,  was  a 
daughter  of  Jesse  Bond,  of  Salem  county,  and  died  in  1893.  Of  their  six 
children,  four  are  living:  John,  a  resident  of  Kentucky;  Lydia,  the  wife  of 
Robert  Cumley;  George,  who  is  also  living  in  Kentucky;  and  Warren,  of 
this  review. 

The  present  proprietor  of  the  Cherry  Lawn  Farm  is  both  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Gloucester  county,  where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed. 
He  attended  the  local  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  when  seventeen 
years  of  age  crossed  the  continent  to  California,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  and  became  its  owner  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  here  has  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres,  and  also  has 
a  small  place  of  thirty  acres  in  Mullica  Hill.  He  has  transformed  a  rather 
unproductive  tract  into  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  the  entire  locality,  doing 
this  by  means  of  fertilizers.  He  has  studied  closely  the  needs  of  the  soil 
and  hO'W  best  to  supply  them,  and  as  a  result  he  gained  a  knowledge  of 
fertilizers  which  has  proved  of  great  practical  benefit.  He  hired  manufac- 
turers to  produce  his  fertilizers  according  to  the  formula  he  gave,  and  so 
successful  was  he  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land  by  these  methods  that  his 
neighbors  began  to  come  to  him  for  fertilizers  and  he  has  now  quite  an 
extensive  sale  in  that  line.  It  was  supposed  that  the  soil  of  southern  New 
Jersey  was  almost  utterly  unfit  for  farming  purposes,  but  he  has  demon- 
strated the  fact  that  it  can  be  made  very  rich  and  productive  and  will  yield 
an  excellent  profit  on  the  money  invested.  He  raises  large  crops  of  aspara- 
gus, potatoes  and  hay,  and  in  1897  sold  twenty-four  thousand  bunches  of 
asparagus  and  forty-eight  hundred  bushels  of  new  potatoes  in  addition  to 
other  large  crops.  He  also  raises  sheep  and  hogs,  and  in  all  departments 
of  his  business  is  meeting  with  very  gratifying  success.  His  farm  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  southern  New  Jersey,  and  is  improved  with  all  modern  acces- 
sories  and   conveniences.      In   addition   to   the   pleasant   and   commodious 


398  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

residence  there  are  ui)on  the  place  a  large  fertilizer  house,  ice-house  and  cold 
storage,  asparagus-packing  and  crib  house,  wagon  sheds,  and  horse,  cow 
and  sheep  barns,  with  a  geared  power  wind-wheel  sixteen  feet  in  diameter. 
Like  his  ancestors,  Mr.  Atkinson  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  one  of  the  faithful  representatives  of  the  organization.  His  religious 
belief  hnds  exemplification  in  his  daily  life,  being  manifest  in  his  honorable 
business  methods  and  his  reliahilit}-  in  all  trade  transactions.  In  this  county, 
which  is  the  ancestral  home  of  the  family,  he  fully  sustains  the  high  reputa- 
tion which  the  Atkinsons  have  always  enjoyed,  and  in  the  history  of  south- 
ern New  Jersev  he  well  deserves  mention  among  the  honored  citizens. 


EDWARD  S.  IRELAND. 

Edward  S.  Ireland  is  a  railroad  conductor  residing  at  Alullica  Hill.  He 
was  born  in  Williamstown.  New  Jersey,  July  24,  1853.  and  is  a  representative 
of  an  old  family  of  that  locality,  of  English  origin.  His  grandfather,  William 
Ireland,  took  up  his  abode  in  Williamstown  about  the  year  1820,  and  there 
the  father  of  our  subject,  Edward  S.  Ireland,  Sr.,  was  born  and  reared. 
Mr.  Ireland,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  spent  the  days  of  his  childhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  town  and  acquired  his  literary  education  in  the 
common  schools.  He  lived  with  his  uncle  Andrew  during  his  boyhood  and 
assisted  him  in  the  barber  shop,  but  about  1873  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Williamstown  &  Delaware  River  Railroad  Company,  which  has  since  sold 
its  property  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Company.  He  was  employed 
as  a  brakeman  for  two  months,  then  became  a  fireman,  and  in  1876  was 
made  an  engineer.  In  1883  he  became  a  conductor  on  a  freight  train,  but 
after  a  year  was  again  promoted,  this  time  to  the  position  of  passenger  con- 
ductor. He  has  since  served  in  that  way  and  is  a  most  careful  and  capable 
employe  of  the  road.  His  courtesy  to  his  patrons  has  made  him  very  popu- 
lar with  the  traveling  public,  and  he  has  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
corporation  which  he  serves. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1874,  ^Ir.  Ireland  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Annie  E.  Moore,  a  daughter  of  W'illiam  C.  Moore,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
they  have  one  child,  Harry  B.,  who  is  now  employed  in  a  wholesale  notion 
house  in  Philadelphia.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Ireland  was  a  stanch 
Republican  and  has  been  an  active  factor  in  political  circles  of  Monroe 
township.  He  attended  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  and  contributed 
to  its  support,  and  is  a  public-spirited.  progressi\-e  citizen  who  manifests 
a  deep  and  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community. 


;       CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  399 

JOHN  S.   DOUGLASS.  :M.  D. 

John  S.  Douglass,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  general  practice 
of  medicine  in  Tuckahoe,  was  born  at  Dias  Creek,  Cape  May  county,  New 
Jersey,  December  29,  1867,  his  parents  being  Samuel  E.  and  Mary  A. 
(Kernan)  Douglass.  His  paternal  grandfather.  Thomas  Douglass,  was 
born  in  Cape  May  county.  New  Jersey,  at  Dias  Creek,  and  for  many  years 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Dias  Creek  township.  He  held  a  num- 
ber of  local  ofifices.  was  township  clerk  and  for  many  years  served  as  a 
freeholder.  At  one  time  he  was  a  candidate  for  sheriff,  but  met  defeat. 
His  political  support  was  given  to  the  RepubUcan  party  and  he  kept  well 
informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  He  is  a  consistent  and  zealous  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  served  as  deacon  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  work  and  upbuilding  of  the  cause.  He  wedded  Elizabeth,  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  Eldridge.  and  to  them  were  born  the  following  children:  Francis, 
Howard  Reeves,  Freeman  H.  F..  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Burton  Howell. 
The  grandfather  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty  years. 

Samuel  E.  Douglass  was  born  at  Dias  Creek  and  pursued  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  for  fourteen  years  was  connected  with  the  life- 
saving  station  No.  35,  making  his  home  in  Cape  May  Court  House.  Sub- 
sequently he  engaged  in  the  oyster  business.  He  is  now  living  in  Cape 
i\Iay  Court  House  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  residents  of  the  com- 
munity. His  political  support  is  given  to  the  Republican  party  and  he  has 
held  the  ofifice  of  township  committeeman  for  fourteen  years.  He  belongs 
to  the  Baptist  church  and  is  active  and  earnest  in  advancing  the  welfare 
and  growth  of  this  denomination.  He  was  twice  married  and  by  the  first 
union  he  had  two  children, — ^John  Smith,  and  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years.  She.  too,  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  her.  The  father  afterward  married  Miss  Jane  Walker  and  they  are 
now  occupying  a  comfortable  home  in  Cape  May  Court  House. 

John  Smith  Douglass,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  acquired  his 
preliminary  education  in  Cape  May  Court  House,  being  graduated  from 
the  high  school  there.  Determining  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine  his 
life  work,  he  attended  the  College  of  Physicians  &  Surgeons  in  Baltimore 
and  in  1896  was  graduated  in  the  ]\Iedical  &  Chirurgical  College.  He 
then  located  in  Tuckahoe.  where  he  has  since  built  up  a  good  general  prac- 
tice. He  is  a  member  of  the  Cape  May  County  ]Medical  Society,  the  La 
Place   Surgical   Society   and  the   Hamilton   Obstetric  Society.      He   keeps 


400  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  FIRST 

well  informed  concerning  the  progress  that  is  continually  being  made  by 
the  profession  and  his  knowledge  of  the  science  of  medicine  is  compre- 
hensive and  accurate.  He  also  conducts  a  drug  store  and  both  branches 
of  his  business  receive  a  liberal  patronage. 

The  Doctor  is  a  valued  member  of  Tuckahoe  Lodge.  Xo.  67,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  deeply  interested  in  the  growth  and  success  of  the  party.  He 
was  the  coroner  of  Cape  May  county  from  1886  until  1889.  and  proved  an 
efificient  ofificial.  His  ability  in  the  line  of  his  chosen  profession  has  gained 
him  prestige  in  the  medical  fraternity,  while  his  sterling  worth  has  made 
him  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  his  native  count}-. 


ISAAC  MOFFETT. 


Isaac  MofTett,  who  is  now  serving  as  the  collector  of  internal  revenue  of 
the  first  district  of  New  Jersey  for  the  second  time,  is  well  worthy  of  the 
honor  thus  conferred  upon  him.  He  was  born  in  Barnsboro,  Mantua  town- 
ship, Gloucester  county,  this  state,  October  10,  1841,  and  now  maintains  his 
residence  in  Glassboro.  His  great-grandfather,  Patrick  Mofifett,  came  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  and  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the  new  world. 
His  son,  Archibald  Mofifett,  established  the  old  homestead  near  Barnsboro, 
where  occurred  the  birth  of  Isaac  Mofifett,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  subject. 
The  latter  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  a  man  of  high  moral  character, 
who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  work  of  the  Methodist  church  in  which 
he  held  his  religious  membership  and  died  in  1853.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Ann,  daughter  of  Valentine  and  Sophia  Focer,  natives  of  Germany. 

Isaac  Moffett,  whose  name  begins  this  sketch,  the  3'oungest  of  the  seven 
children,  spent  his  early  life  in  working  on  the  farm  through  the  summer 
months,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  upon  his  business  career  by  secur- 
ing a  clerkship  in  a  store.  Subsequently  he  was  a  traveling  salesman  and 
later  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Glassboro,  in  connection  with  his 
brother.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he  embarked  in  a  wholesale  provision  business 
in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  connection  with  Eben  Whitney,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Whitney  &  Mofifett.  He  remained  in  the  firm  for  three  years 
and  for  nine  years  traveled  throughout  the  west  and  south  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  leading  firms  of  Philadelphia.  In  1883  he  took  charge  of  the 
Whitney  Glass  Works'  store  and  filled  that  position  for  ten  years.  He  was 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  national  convention  in  Chicago  in  1888, 


% 


^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  401 

which  nominated  Benjamin  Harrison  for  the  presidency.  The  following  year 
he  was  appointed  by  General  Harrison  to  the  position  of  internal  revenue 
collector  for  the  first  district  of  New  Jersey,  comprising  one-half  of  the 
state,  and  served  not  only  during  the  four  years  of  the  Harrison  administra- 
tion but  also  for  three  months  during  President  Cleveland's  term.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  was  succeeded  by  a  Democrat.  During  that 
time  he  also  conducted  the  Glass  Works'  store,  but  in  the  summer  of  1893 
that  business  changed  hands  and  for  two  years  he  was  not  identified  with 
any  industrial  or  commercial  concern,  the  only  period  during  his  active  life. 
He  then  accepted  the  position  of  general  purchasing  agent  of  the  Whitney 
Glass  Works  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  appointed  by  President  Mc- 
Kinley  to  the  position  of  internal  revenue  collector.  His  appointment  to 
that  office  well  indicates  his  capacity  and  his  promptness  in  the  discharge  of 
the  important  duties  devolving  upon  him. 

Mr.  Moffett  is  connected  with  a  number  of  social  and  benevolent  organ- 
izations, including  the  Masonic  lodge,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Junior 
Order  of  American  Mechanics  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 
In  politics  he  has  taken  a  \erv  active  interest,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote the  growth  and  insure  the  success  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
well  known  in  political,  business  and  fraternal  circles  and  commands  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  is  associated. 


J.   HEXRY   SCHELLINGER. 

With  two  of  the  most  important  industries  that  have  contributed  to 
the  development  and  progress  of  the  state — merchandising  and  farming — • 
Mr.  Schellinger  has  always  been  identified,  and  to-day  he  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  substantial  and  influential  citizens  of  Green  Creek,  Cape  May 
county.  A  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth  (Newton)  Schellinger,  he  was 
born  in  Middle  township.  Cape  May  county,  April  26,  1830.  Ere  a  century 
had  elapsed  from  the  time  the  first  permanent  settlement  was  made  in 
America,  Cornelius  Skellinks  came  to  America  and  took  up  his  abode  in 
Cape  Alay  county,  and  in  1^192,  with  a  colony  of  twenty  or  twenty-five 
families,  he  removed  from  Long  Island  or  Staten  island  to  this  locality. 
In  the  party  were  J.  Spicer.  John  Townsend,  Christopher  Leaming,  George 
Taylor,  Umphrey  Stites,  Arthur  Cresse,  Elijah  Hughes  and  their  families. 
Cornelius  Skellinks  and  his  family  located  at  Cold  Springs,  and  there  he 
established  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  which  stood  as  one  of  the  landmarks  of 
the  country  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.     He  owned 

II— z 


402  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  FIRST 

a  large  tract  of  land,  lying  north  of  Cold  Spring  creek,  updn  which  is 
located  the  old  historic  Cold  Spring  Presbyterian  church.  This  is  the  third 
house  of  worship  erected  upon  that  site.  His  will,  bearing  date  1742,  men- 
tioned three  sons,  William,  Abraham  and  Cornelius,  the  last  named  being 
the  direct  ancestor  of  our  subject.  He  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
namely:  Cornelius,  Jr.,  a  bachelor  who  was  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware  river 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  appointed  by  General  Washington;  Henry, 
Enos,  Daniel,  Mrs.  Mary  Stillwell,  Hannah  and  Lydia. 

Henry  Schellenger,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Cold 
Springs,  near  what  is  now  Bennett  Station.  He,  too.  was  a  pilot  and  lost  a 
pilot  boat  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  vessel  being  taken  as  a  prize  by 
the  British.  At  that  time  he  was  made  a  prisoner  and  carried  to  New  York, 
where  he  was  afterward  exchanged.  He  always  made  his  home  at  Cold 
Spring  and  was  twice  married.  By  the  first  union  he  had  several  children, 
but  all  died  in  early  life.  By  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Schellinger,  he 
had  two  children. — Jeremiah  and  Hannah.  The  latter  was  bom  December 
22,  1788,  and  died  December  29,  1878;  she  became  the  wife  of  Captain 
James  Hand,  a  sea  captain,  who  resided  at  Green  Creek.  After  his  death 
she  became  the  wife  of  Matthew  Marcey,  who  was  born  June  9,  1802,  and 
died  October  10,  1874.  Their  marriage  occurred  March  21,  1831.  Mr. 
Marcey  was  a  prosperous  merchant,  lumber  dealer  and  ship-builder  at 
Green  Creek  and  for  thirty  years  was  a  lay  judge  of  Cape  May  county. 
Throughout  his  residence  in  the  locality  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  distinguished,  enterprising,  successful  and  honorable  citizens.  He  left 
no  children,  and  at  his  death,  Mr.  Schellinger,  of  this  review,  inherited  his 
estate.  The  grandmother  of  our  subject  died  July  21,  1828,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Jeremiah  Schellinger,  the  father,  was  born  at  Cold  Spring  about  1780, 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  After  his  marriage  and  when  still  a  young 
man,  he  removed  to  Green  Creek,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Newton,  died  on  Christmas 
day,  1842,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 

J.  Henry  Schellinger,  their  only  child.  o])tained  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school  in  Green  Creek.  His  father  died  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  and  he  afterward  lived  with  his  aunt  Hannah,  working  in  the  ship-yard 
and  in  the  general  store.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account  at  Green  Creek  and  in  1874  he  inherited  his  aunt's  property  of  two 
hundred  acres.  He  also  owns  another  farm  and  woodland,  but  rents  both 
farming  properties,  devoting  his  energies  to  mercantile  pursuits.  For  four- 
teen years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  conduct  of  a  dry-goods  and  notion 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  403 

store  at  Green  Creek  and  enjoys  a  very  liberal  patronage.  He  carries  a  large 
line  of  goods  of  all  grades  in  order  to  meet  the  demand  of  his  customers, 
and  his  business  is  constantly  increasing.  He  also  owns  a  store  on  the  oppo- 
site corner  from  his  place  of  business. 

In  1853  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  INIr.  Schellinger  and  Miss  Sarah 
A.,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Selem.  They  had  nine  children:  Henry,  a 
shoemaker  and  merchant,  who  married  Harriet  Holmes,  and  died  in  1898, 
leaving  four  children, — Matthew,  Margaret,  Sarah  and  William;  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Sebastian  Norbury,  by  whom  she  had  five  children, — Henry,  Emma, 
Virginia,  Heath  and  Leslie;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Edward  Norbury  and  the 
mother  of  five  children, — Paul,  Elida,  George,  Eva  and  Carl;  James,  who 
wedded  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Hamilton  Norris,  and  had  three 
children, — Walter,  Frank,  and  Roy;  Eva,  the  wife  of  Stilwell  H.  Townsend, 
a  teacher  at  Cape  May,  by  whom  she  has  two  children, — Anna  and  Ralph; 
Abraham,  who  wedded  Etta  Worly,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  years, 
leaving  six  children, — Qara,  Edith,  Edgar,  Reba,  Etta  and  Monroe;  Ralph, 
who  wedded  Jane  Camp  and  had  four  children:  Helen,  Ethel,  and  Eliza- 
beth and  Mary,  twins;  Jeremiah;  and  Joseph  Ralph,  who  died  in  July,  1893, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Schellinger  gives  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic  party  and 
is  a  very  prominent  and  active  member  of  the  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Green  Creek.  He  contributes  liberally  to  its  support,  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  its  work  and  has  served  as  a  steward  and  trustee. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  broad  intelligence,  of  sterling  worth  and  unassailable 
reputation,  and  well  deserves  mention  among  the  representative  citizens 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 


JOHX  S.  REDSTRAICE. 

An  influential  citizen  of  Salem  is  John  Stout  Redstrake,  from  one  of 
the  old  and  honored  families  of  Salem  county  His  paternal  grandfather, 
John  Redstrake,  an  Englishman,  born  June  11,  1770,  married  Sarah  Van 
Horn,  February  6,  1792,  and  soon  after  that  event  they  sailed  for  America, 
the  land  of  promise.  They  landed  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  Red- 
strake's  island,  at  the  mouth  of  Salem  creek,  and  were  the  first  settlers  in 
Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  Salem  county.  Subsequently  he  removed 
to  a  point  about  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Salem,  and  there  erected 
a  substantial  brick  house,  since  popularly  called  the  "Half-way  House." 
It  is  still  standing,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  within  its  walls  the 


404  BIOGRAPHIVAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   FIRST 

original  owner  and  Ijuilder  lived  and  died,  his  property  then  passing  into 
the  hands  of  his  eldest  son,  James  J.,  whose  birth  had  occurred  February 
20,  1808.  He  was  a  prosperous  farmer  for  many  years,  and  for  some  time 
prior  to  his  death,  January  27,  1898,  he  had  lived  retired  in  Salem.  His 
first  wife  was  Clarissa  Gibbon,  and  his  second  union  was  with  Elizabeth 
Brown.  Abigail  Dunlap,  the  eldest  daughter,  of  John  Redstrake, 
was  born  November  7,  1809,  and  died  January  13,  1810.  IMary 
Ann.  born  November  18,  1810,  married  William  Hall,  a  farmer  of  western 
New  York  state  and  later  of  Salem  county,  where  his  demise  occurred. 
Eliza,  born  April  9,  1813,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  V.  Gibbon,  a  farmer 
of  Lower  Penn's  Neck.  Ruth  Hetty,  born  October  17,  18 15,  married 
Ephraim  Jefiferson,  a  farmer  of  Smyrna,  Delaware,  in  which  locality  she 
died.  Henrietta,  born  September  10,  1820,  died  on  the  15th  of  the  following 
December.  Isabella,  liorn  April  13,  1822,  married  Isaac  Murphy,  a  farmer 
of  Fredericktown,  Salem  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Edward  Dunlap  Redstrake,  was  born  February 
15,  1815,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  numerous  business  ventures  during  his 
prime.  For  eight  years  he  ran  a  packet  line  from  Pennsville  to  Philadelphia, 
later  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Richard  Hiles  &  Redstrake,  carrying  on  a 
milling  business  at  Salem  for  two  years;  then  managed  a  farm  which  he 
bought  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  and 
finally  was  engaged  in  the  grain  business  at  Pennsville  for  some  time.  For 
about  twenty  years  ])rior  to  his  death,  August  8,  1891.  he  lived  retired  in 
Salem.  Here  he  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of  appeals  for  fifteen  vears. 
and  was  recognized  as  an  authoritv  as  an  appraiser  and  in  various  capacities 
re(|uiring  sound  judgment  and  business  experience.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
and  religiously  was  an  ardent  Baptist,  being  a  trustee  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  Salem  for  years.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Stout, 
is  still  living,  now  in  her  eighty-third  year.  Their  children  are  named  as  fol- 
lows: Elizabeth,  who  married  Theophilus  Fox,  formerly  of  Camden,  New 
Jersey,  who'  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  between 
Camden  and  Jersey  City:  John  Stout;  Mary  Jane,  born  January'  6,  1838, 
married  Joseph  Abbott,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  in 
1887;  Sarah  D..  of  Salem,  the  wife  of  Bartley  Branning,  formerly  engaged 
in  the  butcher's  business,  but  now  retired;  and  Emma,  the  wife  of  George 
Snitcher,  a  farmer  of  Queen  Anne's  county,  !Mar\land. 

The  birth  of  John  S.  Redstrake  took  place  in  Pennsville,  New  Jersey,  Jan- 
nary  4.  1840.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the 
Friend's  school  in  Wilmington,  Delaware.  For  some  time  he  was  occupied 
in  farminer  with  his  father,  after  which  he  became  connected  with  a  coast 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  405 

wrecking  company,  and  after  gaining  a  necessary  experience  as  a  subordin- 
ate was  made  a  master  of  a  vessel  engaged  in  tlie  service.  He  lield  that  posi- 
tion for  three  years  and  had  numerous  narrow  escapes  from  deatli.  three 
times  being  almost  drowned  in  falHng  overboard  into  the  sea,  and  though 
urged  to  accept  a  captaincy  he  declined.  After  his  marriage  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  and  owned  a  fine  place  of  two  hundred  and  four  acres 
in  Piles  Grove  township.  At  the  end  of  twenty  years  of  successful  work  as  an 
agriculturist  he  removed  to  Salem  in  1891,  still  retaining  his  farm  in  his 
possession.  The  multiplicity  of  his  outside  business  interests  led  to  this  step, 
and  he  has  been  busily  employed  ever  since  in  settling  up  several  estates, 
including  his  father's,  his  uncle  James",  that  of  his  wife's  sister,  and  others. 
At  present  he  is  attending  to  the  management  of  a  number  of  farms,  ten  in 
Salem  county  and  five  in  Maryland,  one  belonging  to  his  wife's  sister,  and  two 
in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  owned  by  John  Wight.  He  is  the  executor 
of  his  father's  estate  and  is  acting  as  guardian  for  his  mother,  and  has  already 
settled  five  estates.  He  is  a  freeholder  of  Salem  county,  and  was  the  first 
Democrat  ever  elected  in  the  east  ward  of  Salem.  He  was  first  elected  to  fill 
out  the  unexpired  term  of  Benjamin  Westcott,  and  the  following  year  was 
regularly  elected  to  the  office. 

On  the  1 8th  of  March.  1873,  Mr.  Redstrake  married  Miss  Elizabeth  C. 
Allen,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Elizabeth  G.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Red- 
strake were  Michael  and  Elizabeth  C.  Allen,  wdiose  home  was  at  Mullica 
Hill,  Xew  Jersey,  and  later  in  Missouri.  The  father  died  at  Salem,  while 
here  on  business  connected  with  the  sale  of  his  property  in  this  state.  The 
children  in  his  family  were:  Abigail,  IMargaret,  Sarah,  James,  Anna.  Mary 
and  Elizabeth. 


WALTER  F.  DL\MENT. 

W' alter  Francis  Diament,  the  well  known  miller  of  Alloway,  Salem  county, 
was  born  in  that  village  September  8,  1877,  a  son  of  Robert  B.  S.  and  Mar- 
garet E.  (Timberman)  Diament.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  village  and  then  engaged  in  the  milling  business  with 
his  father,  learning  all  the  different  phases  of  the  business  until  he  became 
able  to  relieve  his  father  of  much  of  the  management  of  the  plant.  His 
adaptability  for  this  lousiness  was  so  apparent  that  he  has  continued  to  follow 
it  and  is  now  one  of  the  wide  awake,  energetic  young  business  men  of  Allo- 
way.    He  is  a  Republican  and  takes  a  prominent  part  in  local  politics.     He  is 


4o6  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PIRST 

also  a  nieml)cr  of  the  Kiiiqhts  of  Pythias  antl  tlie  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  is  a  general  favorite  in  social  circles. 

Several  generations  of  the  Diaments  have  been  millers,  residents  of  Allo- 
way,  and  have  left  records  for  honesty  and  integrity  that  are  well  worthy  of 
emulation.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  was  born  at  Deerfield,  this 
county,  where  he  engaged  in  milling  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years  at  Alloway.  He  was  a  Methodist  by  profession,  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics and  a  strong  prohibitionist.  He  married  Anna  Eliza  Sopp  and  had  three 
children:  B.  I.,  who  assisted  his  father  in  the  mill  and  succeeded  him  in  the 
business;  Flora,  the  wife  of  Harry  Ayers;  and  Adaline  Fisher. 

Benjamin  Isaac  Diament,  the  grandfather,  was  also  a  native  of  this  county 
and  resided  at  Alloway  and  Deerfield,  the  former  being  his  home  at  death. 
He  taught  school,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  filled  other  public  offices. 
He  was  a  Republican  and  later  a  Whig.  He  was  married  four  times  and  had 
in  all  six  children,  namely:  Isaac,  Francis,  Robert,  Lottie,  Ruth  and  Caro- 
line. He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years,  as  did  the  grand- 
mother of  our  subject.  Robert  B.  S.  Diament,  the  father,  was  also  a  miller 
and  operated  the  mill  established  by  Reeves  &  Brother,  and  later  erected  the 
building  occupied  hy  him  at  present,  under  the  name  of  the  Alloway  Milling 
Company. 


GODFREY  M.  CROWELL,  M.  D. 

As  a  representative  of  one  of  the  professions  that  has  ever  taken  the 
highest  rank  among  the  callings  to  which  men  devote  their  energies,  we 
present  Dr.  Godfrey  M.  Crowell,  who  has  obtained  a  position  of  distinction 
in  the  medical  fraternity.  The  large  practice  which  he  enjoys  is  an  indication 
of  his  ability,  for  intelligent  people  do  not  give  their  patronage  to  one  unfit 
to  assume  the  responsible  duties  that  fall  to  the  physician.  Dr.  Crowell's 
birthplace  is  far  from  here,  for  he  is  a  native  of  Melbourne,  Australia,  his 
parents  being  Edwin  L.  and  Margaret  (Mclnness)  Crowell,  the  former  a 
native  of  Maine  and  the  latter  of  the  Isle  of  Skye.  In  1853  the  former  re- 
moved from  West  Waterville,  Maine,  to  Australia,  and  there  cut  the  first 
pole  and  dug  the  first  post-hole  for  the  telegraph  line  south  of  the  equator. 
This  pole  is  still  called  "Crowell's  pole"  and  is  now  standing  in  ^Melbourne, 
being  an  object  of  regard.  Mr.  Crowell  first  began  taking  government  con- 
tracts in  Australia  and  for  some  years  did  an  extended  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness, but  in  1868  he  returned  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Hammonton. 
Here  he  secured  a  position  as  a  traveling  salesman  and  acted  in  that  capacity 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  April  2y.   1888.     He  was  a  very  prominent 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  407 

Mason,  attaining  the  thirty-second  degree,  and  while  in  Austraha  he  served 
as  deputy  grand  master  of  Victoria  Lodge.  A  man  of  pronounced  abihty,  he 
was  successful  in  business  and  won  the  regard  and  confidence  of  his  fellow 
men.     His  wife  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  Hammonton. 

The  Doctor  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  born  in 
March,  1858,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  accompanied  his  father  on  his  return 
to  America.  In  the  public  schools  of  Hammonton  he  acquired  his  edu- 
cation and  was  graduated  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia, 
in  the  class  of  1882.  He  then  spent  a  year  in  the  Philadelphia  hospital, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1883.  Thinking  to  identify  his  interests  with 
the  west,  he  removed  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  he  engaged  in  practice 
until  1889,  when  he  returned  to  Hammonton  and  opened  an  of^ce  here.  He 
has  displayed  marked  ability  both  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  in  surgery, 
and  is  a  valuable  member  of  the  County  Medical  Society.  In  1892  he  estab- 
lished a  drug  store  in  Hammonton,  which  he  is  now  successfully  conducting. 
He  is  also  the  vice-president  of  the  State  Mutual  Building  &  Loan  Associa- 
tion. 

In  1885  the  Doctor  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lillian  D.  Elvins,  a 
most  estimable  lady  who  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  They  now  have  three  children, — Edwin,  Annie  and  Marion, — and 
the  family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  a 
wide  acquaintance  in  the  community,  where  they  are  highly  esteemed.  He  is 
a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  giving  his  support  to  all  meas- 
ures for  the  public  good  and  lends  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  the  move- 
ments tending  toward  the  promotion  of  the  educational,  social  and  moral 
interests. 


WILLIAM  T.  JACKSON. 

William  T.  Jackson,  the  efficient  and  popular  superintendent  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia Sanitarium,  of  Woodbury,  Gloucester  county,  was  born  in  Smyrna, 
Delaware,  October  13.  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  R.  and  Hannah  A. 
(Burris)  Jackson,  the  former  also  a  native  of  Delaware,  in  which  state  he  is 
yet  a  resident.  The  wife  and  mother  was  summoned  to  her  eternal  rest  at 
her  home  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  December  23,  1848.  Of  their  children 
two  died  young,  and  the  others  were  William  T.;  James  L.,  who  married 
Maggie  Jester,  of  Smyrna,  Delaware;  Elida,  the  wife  of  William  C.  Roe,  of 
Wilmington,  Delaware;  Robert,  who  married  Mary  E.  Morgan;  Walker  W., 
whose  wife  was  formerly  Gertrude  Burris;  Clayton,  who  wedded  Ida  Nicker- 


4o8  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

son,  and  resides  at  Camden.  Xew  Jersey;  EInora,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Burris, 
of  ^\'iimington:  Stephen,  who  married  Florence  Ogden;  and  Clara  B. 

In  his  childhood  William  T.  Jackson  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Smyrna,  and  when  he  was  a  mere  youth  he  chose  seamanship  as  his  chief 
occupation  in  life.  He  continued  to  follow  this  calling  until  he  reached  the 
prime  of  manhood,  when,  in  1883,  he  was  honored  by  the  appointment  to  his 
present  position.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  the  master  of  steamers 
plying  on  the  Delaware  river  between  Smyrna  and  Philadelphia.  Since  the 
1st  of  July,  1893.  he  has  given  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  meeting  the 
requirements  of  his  responsible  office  as  superintendent  of  the  Philadelphia 
Sanitarium,  and  has  won  an  enviable  reputation  for  the  able  manner  in  which 
he  has  conducted  the  affairs  of  this  well  known  institution.  Fraternally  he  is 
a  member  of  Brandywine  Lodge,  Shield  of  Honor,  of  Wilmington,  and  in 
his  political  views  he  is  liberal,  reserving  his  opinion  and  action  in  public 
matters  without  regard  to  party  lines. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1876,  Mr.  Jackson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
iliss  Kate  Jacobs,  a  daughter  of  Julian  and  Kate  Jacobs,  a  native  of  Balti- 
more, in  which  city  her  birth  had  occurred  August  30,  1855.  Four  daugh- 
ters and  a  son  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and  wife,  namely:  Harry, 
born  June  20.  1877;  Irene.  January  12,  1879;  Bessie.  October  2,  1881; 
Elsie,  October  7,  1884;  and  Edith,  March  2.  1888.  The  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  number  a  host  of  sincere  friends  in  this 
community. 


SAMUEL  M.  LIPPIXXOTT. 

There  is  strong  reason  for  the  prevalent  belief  that  the  founder  of  the 
numerous  families  of  Lippincott  in  America  was  Richard  Lippincott.  a  native 
of  Plymouth.  Devonshire.  England.  He  emigrated  to  Dorchester,  Xew  Eng- 
land, some  time  between  the  years  1636  and  1640,  and  after  spending  four 
years  on  these  bleak  shores  returned  to  his  native  village.  There  he  joined 
the  then  religious  sect,  the  Society  of  Friends,  about  1650,  and,  in  common 
with  his  brethren,  suffered  much  persecution  for  his  faith.  As  the  old  rec- 
ords show,  he  was  committed  to  prison  on  the  20th  of  January.  1660,  by 
Oliver  Creely,  mayor  of  Plymouth,  being  taken,  with  some  of  his  friends, 
from  the  meeting-house  in  which  thev-  had  assembled  for  worship.  Freed 
at  length,  he  commenced  planning  to  depart  to  a  countrj-  where  he  and  his 
might  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  conscience,  and  in  1663  he 
and  his  family  sailed  for  the  shores  of  the  Xew  ^^'orld.  Locating  in  Rhode 
Island,  he   remained  there  until  1669,  when,  with  a  little  colony,  he  came  to 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  409 

New  Jersey,  and,  making  a  settlement  at  Shrewsbury,  he  Ijecame  tlie  pro- 
prietor of  large  estates. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Samuel  Lippincott,  a  native 
of  Gloucester  county.  He  lived  in  Burlington  county,  this  state,  for  a  short 
period,  but  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Salem  county.  In  1831  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Woodstown.  and  in  1846  he  removed  to 
the  village  of  Woodstown.  Here  he  was  summoned  to  his  eternal  rest,  when 
he  was  eighty-two-  years  of  age.  He  was  loved  and  held  in  veneration  by  all 
who  knew  him,  and  in  the  Friends'  meeting  he  was  especially  influential  and 
revered.  His  first  wife  died  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  and  for  his 
second  wife  he  chose  Abigail  Laurie,  who  departed  this  life  when  she  was 
seventy  years  of  age.  Four  of  the  children  of  Samuel  Lippincott  and  wife 
Abigail  survive,  namely:   Samuel  M.,  Ann  F.,  Nathan  Y.  and  George. 

The  nativity  of  Samuel  M.  Lippincott  occurred  December  8,  1816.  in 
Salem,  near  Sharptown.  and  from  his  early  recollections  he  was  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  the  year  which  witnessed  the  close  of  the  civil  war, 
when  he  was  married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  and  he  located  upon  a  farm 
which  he  had  purchased  in  Piles  Grove  township,  and  for  several  years 
conducted  that  homestead.  Later  he  carried  on  the  place  which  had  been 
his  father's,  and  in  1865  he  became  a  resident  of  Woodstown,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  dwell  for  seven  years.  For  a  period  he  then  made  his  abode  in 
Point  Airy  Station,  Salem  county,  on  a  farm,  but  in  1891  returned  to 
Woodstown,  where  he  is  still  residing.  He  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  his 
career,  for  he  has  held  integrity  and  justice  beyond  the  accumulation  of 
riches,  and  has  endeavored  to  put  into-  daily  practice  the  Golden  Rule.  He 
is  an  honored  member  of  the  Friends'  meeting,  and  reared  his  children  in 
upright  principles  of  conduct. 

A  marriage  ceremony  which  took  place  March  11,  1840,  united  the  des- 
tinies of  Samuel  'SI.  Lippincott  and  Anna  M.  Cawley.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Anna  Maria  Cawle\',  and  sister  of  Sarah,  widow  of  Hamilton 
Hillman,  of  Woodstown.  Mr.  Cawley  died  when  he  was  in  his  seventy- 
sixth  year,  while  his  wife  was  summoned  to  the  silent  land  when  Mrs.  Lip- 
pincott was  but  six  years  old.  Five  children  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject 
and  wife,  namely:  Maria,  who  is  Mrs.  Morris  Thorn,  of  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columljia;  Salh-  P.:  Nathan  R.,  who  married  Mary  Humphreys; 
William  P.,  whose  wife  was  Hannah  Lippincott;  and  Harry  Samuel  Wells, 
who  died  when  three  years  old.  Airs.  Lippincott,  the  fond  wife  and  mother, 
was  summoned  to  the  better  land  on  the  loth  of  Septemljer,  1886,  when 
she  was  in  her  sixty-ninth  year.  Her  memory  is  tenderly  cherished  in  the 
hearts  of  the  manv  who  loved  and  admired  her  in  life,  and  her  husband  is 


4IO  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

quietly  waiting  for  the  moment  when  their  spirits  will  lie  reunited,  as  their 
hopes  and  aims  were  the  same  along  the  pathway  which  they  lovingly  pur- 
sued for  fortv-six  vears. 


JOSEPH  M.  RILEY. 


This  life-long  resident  of  Upper  Pittsgrove  township,  Salem  county,  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  a  family  which  has  occupied  an  honored  and  dis- 
tinguished place  in  the  annals  of  this  section  of  the  state.  The  Rileys  for- 
merly lived  in  Long  Island, but  for  about  a  century  have  been  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  New  Jersey,  Mark  Riley,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  having  been  the  first  of  the  name  here.  His  son  Dayton,  the 
next  in  the  direct  line  of  descent,  was  a  man  of  influence  here,  being  a  free- 
holder and  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 

Samuel  R.  Riley,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Indian  Fields.  New 
Jersey,  April  24,  1819,  and  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  went  to  the 
west,  where  he  was  employed  upon  a  steamboat  for  a  period,  after  which  he 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Ohio  and  managed  it  successfully.  At  length,  return- 
ing to  his  native  state,  he  bought  a  stage  line,  running  from  Philadelphia  to 
Port  Elizabeth,  by  way  of  Millville.  Later  he  sold  out  and  invested  in  other 
enterprises,  being  the  proprietor  of  a  store  at  Elmer  for  some  time  and  run- 
ning a  lumber  business  as  well.  Though  death  claimed  him  when  he  was  in 
the  prime  of  life  he  had  already  accomplished  much,  and  left  what  was  then 
considered  a  large  estate.  He  had  exchanged  the  store  at  Elmer  for  the 
homestead  now  owned  by  our  subject,  and  this  was  his  place  of  abode  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  very  kind  and  benevolent  to  the  poor  and,  being  a 
man  of  public  spirit,  he  assisted  in  the  building  of  the  turnpikes  and  in  other 
local  enterprises.  As  a  business  man  he  accomplished  a  great  deal.  In  his 
politics  he  was  a  Whig  and  a  Republican.  His  useful  life  came  to  a  peaceful 
close  on  the  23d  of  March,  1862.  He  wedded  Anna  Martin,  a  daughter  of 
John  Martin,  of  Greenville,  New  Jersey,  the  ceremony  which  united  their 
destinies  being  performed  October  2,  1846.  Of  their  seven  children  three  are 
living,  namely:  Joseph  M. ;  Millard  P..  who  is  the  owner  of  a  store  at  Shirley; 
and  Ella  M.,  who  resides  at  the  old  family  home  which  has  sheltered  her  from 
infancy. 

Joseph  M.  Riley  was  born  on  the  same  homstead,  November  28,  1852, 
and  in  his  boyhood  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and 
subsequently  was  a  student  in  the  Bridgeton  and  Salem  schools.  Then  he 
was  engaged  in  business  at  Shirley  for  four  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  the  farm  and  since  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  its  cultivation  and 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  411 

improvement.  There  are  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  in  the  place, 
which  is  justly  rated  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms  in  the  township. 

In  November.  1879,  j\Ir.  Riley  married  Miss  Caroline  Miller,  and  six 
children  blessed  their  union.  Two  of  the  number  have  passed  away;  and 
Samuel,  the  only  surviving  son,  is  established  in  business  at  Daretown,  this 
county.    The  daughters. — Lizzie,  Phoebe  and  Verna —  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Riley  takes  a  commendable  interest  in  religious  and  educational  mat- 
ters, giving  liberally  of  his  time  and  means  to  these  important  causes.  He  is 
a  valued  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Friesburg.  and  for  three  years 
was  a  trustee  for  that  body.  He  enjoys  the  respect  and  genuine  regard  of  a 
wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and  maintains  an  enviable  reputation  for  integ- 
rity and  uprightness  of  character. 


EDMUND  A.  BOURGEOIS. 

One  of  the  leading  contracting  firms  of  Ocean  City  is  that  of  which  Ed- 
mund Augustus  Bourgeois  is  a  member.  He  was  born  December  13,  1857. 
in  Mauricetown,  New  Jersey,  his  parents  being  George  Albert  and  Alary 
Jane  (Broadwater)  Bourgeois.  In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  he  pur- 
sued his  education  and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  afterward  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  carpenter's 
trade  under  his  father,  working  in  Mauricetown  and  vicinity,  and  since 
coming  to  Ocean  City  in  1887  he  has  been  in  partnership  with  his  father 
under  the  firm  name  of  George  A.  Bourgeois  &  Son.  They  built  the  Hotel 
./Etna,  the  largest  building  at  Ocean  City,  and  much  of  the  time  employ  a 
force  of  forty  workmen.  They  take  large  contracts  and  their  Inisiness  is 
extensive  and  of  an  important  character.  Our  subject  has  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  building  interests  and  his  practical  knowledge  of  the  work  en- 
ables him  to  so  direct  his  employes  as  to  secure  from  them  good  service.  For 
several  years  he  was  a  director  of  the  Building  &  Loan  Association,  with 
which  he  is  still  connected.  He  is  always  just  in  his  treatment  of  them  and 
at  all  times  is  an  honorable  and  reliable  business  man. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1887,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bourgeois  and 
Miss  Anna  Frances  Stites,  daughter  of  Captain  Edward  Stites,  one  of  the 
largest  oyster  shippers  of  Port  Norris,  living  at  Newport.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Bourgeois  now  have  an  interesting  little  son,  named  Edmund  Roy,  who  is 
three  years  of  age.  In  his  political  affiliations  our  subject  is  a  Democrat. 
In  1893-4  served  as  the  borough  clerk.  He  is  a  member  and  the  secretary 
of  the  volunteer  fire  department:  and  has  served  as  a  trustee  of  the  pub- 


41?  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

lie  schools  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  beino;  one  of  the  organiz- 
ers and  a  charter  member  of  the  lodge  at  Ocean  City,  and  he  also  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee.  He 
is  a  worthy  citizen  and  a  man  in  whom  sterling  qualities  have  gained  to  him 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  tliose  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact. 


JOSEPH  DOUGHTY  TROTH. 

"Life  is  meaningless  unless  it  is  universal  and  coherent."  It  is  in  a  he\p- 
ful  relation  to  our  time,  a  sympathetic  union  with  the  surrounding  current 
of  thought,  feeling  and  purpose,  that  we  can  realize  the  worth  of  our  own 
identit}-.  To  consciously  ally  oneself  with  any  of  the  mighty  mo\-ements 
that  are  shaping  the  future  is  to  invest  life  with  new  dignity  and  ]iower.  The 
present  is  a  time  of  combinations  for  varied  aims,  for  man  sees  more  and 
more  clearly  his  weakness  as  an  individual  as  compared  with  his  strength 
in  union  with  others.  The  name  of  Joseph  Doughty  Troth  is  known 
throughout  the  Union,  and  in  Canada  as  well,  in  connection  with  the  glass- 
workers'  interests  of  the  two  countries.  He  has  been  most  prominent  in 
laboring  for  the  welfare  of  those  who  represent  this  important  industry,  and 
his  efforts  have  been  most  effective.  He  has  a  keen  sense  of  justice  and  a 
sound  mind,  of  rare  discrimination  and  analysis,  that  enables  him  to  arrive 
at  correct  conclusions,  to  realize  the  importance  of  certain  situations 
and  conditions,  and  to  utilize  these  so  as  to  bring  about  the  best 
results  for  all  concerned.  His  ability  for  leadership  has  gained  him  the 
national  presidency  of  the  Glass  Blowers'  Association,  and  thus  has  he  been 
a  potent  element  in  one  of  the  mighty  movements  formed  for  adjusting  the 
differences  between  capital  and  labor  and  for  securing  the  rights  of  the 
thousands  who  labor  in  the  factories  and  who  form  the  bone  and  sinew  of 
the  Union.  It  is  the  continuous  industry  of  the  large  class  of  workmen  that 
has  led  to  the  prosperity  and  advancement  of  this  republic,  and  certainly  their 
rights  should  be  the  first  consideration. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Troth  has  been  interested  in  and  con- 
nected with  glass-manufacturing,  and  his  close  study  of  the  problem  has 
made  him  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  solution  of  the  questions  which  now 
occupy  so  much  of  the  public  attention.  He  was  born  near  Waterford.  Cam- 
den county,  \e\\  Jersey,  February  27,  1857,  and  is  of  English  lineage,  his 
ancestry  being  connected  with  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  parents  were 
Thomas  H.  and  Emily  (Doughty)  Troth,  and  his  ancestry  can  be  traced 


flA 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  413 

back  to  William  Troth,  who  was  born  in  1676,  and  was  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  New  Jersey.  lie  located  on  I'Jancocos  creek,  where  he  purchased 
land,  April  ji;,  1717.  makino^  his  home  in  thai  localiU'  until  his  (lr;itli.  wliirli 
occurred  in  1740.  llis  children  were:  Taul,  ulm  died  in  iS_^S;  |)t>li()iah; 
Mary,  the  wife  (if  Zachariali  Pricket;  Jane,  the  wife  of  W'illi.ain  (ianiond; 
and  Rebecca,  the  wife  nf  Atnos  1  l.aines.  I'aul  Troth,  the  eldest  of  the  family, 
had  five  chililren,  n;nnely:  William,  who  was  born  |ime  (),  1733,  and  was 
married  in  1757  to  bsther  llortoii;  ls;i;u-.  I''.li/.,abetl),  Mai'S'  and  J.ane,  Tlu' 
children  of  William  and  I'lstlur  (  I'.orlon)  Troth  were  Taul.  I'.slher,  Is.a.ar  and 
John.  The  I'Ides!.  I'.hiiI  Troth,  was  born  Januar\'  3.  1759,  and  mariaed  Mary 
Hillman,  ;i  d.an^liter  of  J;inies  and  Mary  Hillman.  llis  second  wife  was 
Sybilhrliellinger,  and  for  his  third  wife  he  wedded  llann"ah  Glover.  The 
children  of  his  first  marriajjje  were  Esther,  William,  James,  Jacob.  Josejih  ;ind 
Elizabeth.  William  Troth,  a  son  of  Paul  and  Mary  (Hillman)  Troth,  was 
born  July  9,  17S4,  and  married  Sarah  Gaskill,  a  dau5.fhter  of  Asa  and  Sarah 
(Monroe)  Gaskill.  Tlnii-  children  were  Joesph  G.,  Paul,  Mary,  Ezra,  .S.arah, 
John  B.  and  William.  John  l'>.  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the  federal  army  in 
the  war  of  the  rebellion,  lie  operated  a  shoe  factory  in  the  state  of  Vir- 
ginia, manufacturing  shoes  for  the  northern  army,  and  was  fcjrced  from  home 
and  business  three  times  during  the  w.ar,  ;mil  after  the  war  closed,  upon  invi- 
tation, came  to  Phil;idcl])hia  and  made  a  si)eech  in  b'r,aid<lin  .Sipi.ai'e.  lie  is 
still  living. 

Joseph  G.  Troth,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Gaskill)  Troth, 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Camden,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  made  his  home  throughout  his  life.  He  owned  and  operated  a  sawmill 
and  was  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  wedded  Isabel 
Merrill,  and  they  made  their  home  on  Third  street,  at  the  corner  of  Federal 
street,  where  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  spent  his  last  days.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Sarah  M.,  who  was  born  February  10,  1831,  and  became  the  wife 
of  fames  .Shi\-ers,  bv  whom  she  had  three  children, — Emma,  John  and  Wil- 
li.am;  Thomas  II.,  born  A])ril  to.  1S33,  dic(l  July  29,  1S99;  Ami,  who 
was  born  March  7,  i<'~!32,  died  February  17,  \H(>2;  Mary,  who  was  born 
August  7,  1835,  died  March  9,  1854;  Mary  .\mi,  who  was  born  June  2y, 
1839,  died  January  4,  1840;  and  William,  l)orn  December  23,  1840,  and  died 
July  16,  1868.  He  married  Rebecca  P.  Thomas,  and  their  only  son,  Edward 
S.  Troth,  is  at  present  a  staff  editor  on  the  Mount  Holly  .Mirror,  at  .Mount 
Holly,  New  Jersey. 

Thomas  H.  Troth,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  Federal  street, 
Camden,  New  Jersey,  attended  the  C)uaker  school  at  that  jilace,  ;nid  when 
only  eight  vears  of  age,  at  the  death  of  his  parents,  began  work  on  a  fariu. 


414  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

He  was  also  employed  in  a  sawmill,  under  the  direction  of  Andrew  Ross, 
and  subsequently  he  learned  the  glass-blower's  trade,  which  he  followed  for 
several  years.  In  1861  he  came  to  Millville  and  entered  the  employ  of 
Whitall,  Tatuin  &  Company,  the  proprietors  of  the  largest  glass-works  in 
this  section  of  the  state,  in  whose  service  he  continued  for  twenty-eight 
years,  a  fact  which  indicates  his  excellent  workmanship  as  well  as  his  fidelity 
to  his  employers'  interests.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  was  elected 
supervisor  of  roads  and  streets  for  a  term  of  five  years,  and  while  discharg- 
ing the  duties  of  that  ofifice  also  conducted  a  livery  stable.  He  subsequently 
engaged  in  farming  in  Millville  township,  Cumberland  county,  turning  his 
attention  to  that  industry  in  1893.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  however,  he 
resided  at  Xo.  428  Mulberry  street,  Millville.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Republican  party,  and  socially  he  was  connected  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Glass  Blow- 
ers' Association  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  being  the  secretarj'  of  the 
Millville  branch  of  the  organization  for  several  years.  He  was  a  thoroughly 
conscientious  and  upright  man,  whose  life  was  in  harmony  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity,  and  he  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  citizens  at  all  times.  He  wedded  Emily  Doughty,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children:  Joseph  D. ;  William:  Harry,  who  owns  a  farm 
and  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  poultry  business,  making  a  specialty  of  the 
raising  of  fancy  pigeons,  and  married  Louisa  Hund,  by  whom  he  has  a  son, 
Edgar;  Edgar;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Harry  Thomas,  a  clerk  for  Whitall,  Tatum 
&  Company,  by  whom  he  has  a  son,  Edgar,  and  a  daughter,  Nellie;  George, 
who  is  a  glass-blower  and  married  Ella  Henry,  who  was  formerly  a  successful 
teacher;  and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John  Alaurada.  a  paper-hanger.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died,  and  the  father  afterward  married  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Headly,  nee  Reeves,  and  their  children  are:  Thomas  O.,  who  conducts 
a  commission  business  and  barber  shop;  and  Emily,  the  wife  of  Ed  Counsel- 
lor, who  is  in  the  Camden  ofifice  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company. 
The  father  of  these  children  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

Joseph  Doughty  Troth,  to  whom  we  now  direct  the  attention  of  our 
readers,  and  whose  life  history  will  awaken  wide-spread  interest  owing  to  his 
connection  with  the  labor  problems,  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  Cum- 
berland county.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the  public  schools  until  four- 
teen years  of  age  and  then  put  aside  his  text-books  in  order  to  enter  upon 
his  business  career.  He  learned  the  trade  of  stopper-grinding  of  the  firm  of 
Whitall.  Tatum  &  Company,  of  Millville,  and  afterward  learned  the  trade  of 
glass-blowing.     He  com])!eted  a  five-years  apprenticeship  with  that  com- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  415 

pany  before  attaining  his  majority,  and  afterward  built  a  tank  and  for  a  short 
time  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glass  balls  for  trap  shooting.  At  length 
he  sold  that  plant  to  Whitall,  Tatum  &  Company  and  again  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  corporation.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  at  West  Bridge- 
water,  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  at  a  later  date  gave  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  to  his  duties  as  an  officer  in  the  Glass  Blowers'  Associa- 
tion. His  first  position  in  the  organization  was  that  of  trustee  in  the  old 
Flint  League,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  on  the  completion  of  his  appren- 
ticeship. He  served  in  that  capacity  until  he  resigned,  and  became  the  secre- 
tary of  branch  No.  7,  also  a  member  of  the  standing  committee,  and  served 
annually  as  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention,  serving  in  those  positions 
until  elected  a  member  of  the  executive  board  of  the  eastern  division  of  the 
Green  Glass  League.  In  1889  the  eastern  and  western  divisions  of  the  Green 
Glass  Bottle  Blowers'  Association  met  at  Atlantic  City  for  the  purpose  of 
consolidating  the  organizations,  and  Mr.  Troth  was  made  the  chairman  of 
the  joint  conventions.  The  next  year  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
national  executive  board,  and  at  St.  Louis,  in  1892,  he  was  elected  the  chair- 
man of  the  national  executive  board  and  was  chosen  vice  president  of  the 
national  association.  Still  further  advancement  awaited  him,  for  in  1894  he 
was  unanimously  elected  the  president  of  the  Glass  Bottle  Blowers'  Asso- 
ciation of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  at  the  meeting  held  in  Atlantic 
City,  New  Jersey.  The  following  year  he  was  re-elected,  at  Montreal,  Can- 
ada, and  was  instructed  to  visit  the  Pacific  coast  to  make  an  investigation 
concerning  the  importation  of  glassware.  He  is  the  only  president  ever 
chosen  for  such  a  task,  and  he  is  the  only  man  ever  elected  president  of  the 
association  east  of  the  Alleghanies.  At  the  time  he  was  elected,  he  was  the 
chairman  of  the  mediation  committee  of  the  trades'  organization  of  Mill- 
ville.  New  Jersey,  but  resigned  to  enter  upon  the  more  responsible  duties  as 
chairman  of  the  mediation  committee  that  arbitrated  all  matters  of  dispute 
at  Millville  for  several  years,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  all  difficulties 
were  settled  and  adjusted  amicably.  As  president  of  the  national  organiza- 
tion, the  distinction  of  reading  the  most  able  report  of  all  presiding  officers  is 
accorded  him.  He  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  many  of  the  conventions  of 
his  party  and  has  done  effective  work  as  a  committeeman.  He  has  mastered 
parliamentary  law,  is  a  logical  reasoner,  a  fluent  and  forceful  speaker  and  a 
man  of  great  influence  and  power.  His  manner  is  courtly,  his  nature 
genial  and  in  every  regard  he  is  a  true  gentleman. 

Mr.  Troth  is  a  member  and  past  chief  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle, 
also  a  member  of  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  holds  the  posi- 
tion of  esteemed  leading  knight.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  local  assembly 


4l6  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

of  the  Knights  of  La1)or,  in  which  he  has  served  as  master  workman.  In 
poHtics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  has  held  a  number  of  offices  and  has 
frequently  served  as  delegate  to  the  local  county  and  state  conventions. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  six  years,  was  its  president  one 
year,  and  on  the  15th  of  September,  1897,  he  received  an  ad-interim  appoint- 
ment as  postmaster  of  Millville,  and  on  the  22nd  of  January,  1898,  he  was 
confirmed  by  the  United  States  senate,  and  received  his  commission  for  a  full 
term  of  four  years,  so  that  he  is  the  present  incumbent.  His  energies  are 
now  devoted  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that  position  and  his  admin- 
istration of  the  affairs  of  the  office  is  commendable  and  satisfactory. 

Mr.  Troth  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida  iNIcLaughlin,  a  daughter 
of  James  McLaughlin,  the  superintendent  for  W'hitall,  Tatum  &  Company  at 
Millville.  Their  children  are:  Emily,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  months; 
Ethel  W'..  William  Brandreth,  Leroy  Clarendon,  Hazel,  Veniah  M.  and  J. 
Sewell.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Mill- 
ville, of  marked  force  of  character,  of  strong  mentality  and  of  keen  discern- 
ment, concerned  with  those  large  loving  interests  which  afifect  humanity. 
Probably  no  question  has  excited  such  universal  and  world-wide  interest  as 
the  labor  problems,  and  it  is  such  men  as  Mr.  Troth  who  are  capable  of 
harmonizing  the  differences  between  labor  and  capital  and  bringing  about 
the  desired  results  from  seemingly  opposing  elements,  and  after  twenty  years 
of  hard  work,  and  study  of  the  labor  problem,  he  feels  proud  of  the  fact  that 
he  has  never  advocated  or  ordered  a  strike.  His  close  study  and  careful 
deliberation  have  made  him  a  leader  in  one  of  the  most  mighty  movements 
of  the  century,  and  throughout  this  country  and  Canada  he  has  won  friends 
among  all  classes  by  his  fairness,  im|jartiality  and  his  honorable  purpose. 


FRA:^IBES  J.  SMITH. 

The  palatial  home  of  Mr.  Smith  in  Ocean  City  is  an  indication  of  the  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  his  efforts  throughout  his  business  career,  and  he 
is  deserving  of  great  credit  for  rising  to  his  present  position  in  Inisiness 
circles  from  the  fact  that  he  began  life  without  capital  and  has  worked  his 
way  upward  by  his  own  industrw  his  energy  and  determined  purpose.  He 
was  born  at  English  Creek,  Atlantic  c<nmty,  September  \(k  iSdj;.  anti  is  a 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Lee)  Smith.  The  father  was  born  at  English 
Creek,  November  24,  1828,  and  throughout  the  early  part  of  his  life  sailed 
the  sea,  owning  a  number  of  vessels  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade.  Two 
years  prior  to  his  death,  however,  he  left  the  water,  spending  the  residue  of  his 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  417 

life  in  retirement  from  active  labor.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Union  Bene- 
ficial Society  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  served 
as  a  trustee  and  steward,  taking  a  very  active  part  in  its  work  and  laboring 
earnestly  and  effectually  to  promote  its  success  and  welfare.  His  political 
support  was  given  the  Republican  party.  He  died  January  6,  1892,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years,  but  his  wife,  who  was  born  May  8,  1834,  is  still  living, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  They  had  three  children:  Arelda,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Frambes;  and  Lena,  wife  of  Edward  Stonehill,  a 
mason,  bricklayer  and  plasterer  residing  in  Ocean  City,  by  whom  she  has 
a  daughter  named  Sarah. 

Frambes  Smith  obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Atlantic 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  put  aside  his  text-books  and  went 
to  sea.  As  a  boy  he  had  accompanied  his  father  on  various  voyages  and  had 
acquired  considerable  knowledge  concerning  the  management  of  ocean  craft. 
Accordingly  he  was  made  the  mate  of  the  vessel  when  he  decided  to  follow 
the  sea,  and  the  following  year  he  became  the  captain  of  the  John  S.  Gil- 
more,  a  boat  which  had  previously  been  com.manded  by  his  father.  He  after- 
ward was  mate  on  the  Raymond  T.  Maul,  a  boat  owned  and  commanded  by 
his  uncle,  W.  C.  Smith,  and  plying  between  the  ports  of  Philadelphia,  Balti- 
more and  Boston.  For  two  years  Mr.  Smith  continued  in  that  position,  and 
was  then  married,  after  which  he  operated  his  father's  farm  for  some  time. 
Later  he  again  went  to  sea,  and  during  five  years,  in  which  he  made  several 
voyages,  he  never  missed  but  three  days'  pay.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  purchased  a  farm  at  English  Creek,  but  after  a  short  time  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits  he  again  went  to  sea.  In  1891  he  removed  from  the 
farm  which  he  sold  in  1893.  The  former  year  he  came  to  Ocean  City  and 
the  following  March  entered  the  milk  business  and  handled  fresh  meats  and 
provisions,  which  business  he  conducted  till  1898.  During  that  period  he 
also  dealt  in  real  estate  to  some  extent.  He  then  purchased  the  lumber- 
yard formerly  the  property  of  \\'.  C.  Smith  &  Sons,  and  occupying  a  site  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  by  two  hundred  and  ten  feet,  on  Fourth  street  and  Haven 
avenue.  Here  he  handled  all  kinds  of  lumber  and  building  materials  and 
received  from  the  public  a  liberal  patronage,  hip  business  constantly  increas- 
ing in  volume  and  importance.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ocean  City  Building 
&  Loan  Association  and  the  ^Mutual  Building  and  Loan  Bank  of  Camden 
city. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1883  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  and 
Miss  Rebecca  J.  Scull,  a  daughter  of  David  L.  Scull.  Their  eldest  child  died 
in  infancy,  but  three  are  still  living:  Harry  I..  Allen  H.  and  Frambes  G.  In 
his  political  views  I\Ir.  Smith  is  a  Republican,  unswerving  in  the  support  of 

U— AA 


4i8  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

the  principles  of  the  party,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Union  Beneficial 
Society.  His  close  application  to  business  and  his  diligence  and  honorable 
dealings  having  been  the  ruling  factor  in  his  success,  but  man's  position  in  the 
business  and  social  world  is  determined  by  his  character;  and  it  is  this  which 
has  won  Mr.  Smith  his  high  standing. 


THE  MECUM  FAMILY. 


Among-  the  prominent  families  of  New  Jersey  whose  history  has  become 
an  integral  part  of  the  annals  of  the  state,  none  is  more  worthy  of  mention 
in  this  volume  than  the  one  whose  name  heads  this  article.  Its  representa- 
tives have  always  been  men  of  determined  loyalty  and  of  uprightness  in 
business  afifairs,  while  its  women  have  displayed  those  traits  of  character 
which  everywhere  win  for  a  woman  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  she  comes 
in  contact.  The  original  American  emigrant,  Edward  Mecum,  came  from 
England  to  the  New  World  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  As 
early  as  1706  his  name  appears  in  the  court  records  as  a  juror  in  Salem 
county,  New  Jersey.  One  of  his  sons,  William  Mecum,  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Penn's  Neck  township,  Salem  county, 
and  built  a  residence  thereon  prior  to  1737.  In  that  year  he  rebuilt  and  the 
house  is  still  standing,  one  of  the  landmarks  which  indicate  the  progress 
of  the  country.  In  1728  he  married  Margaret  Vickery,  and  they  had  one 
son.  Major  William  ^Nlecum,  who  was  twice  married.  He  first  wedded 
Dorcas  Gibson,  and  they  had  one  child,  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy.  For 
his  second  wife  he  chose  Eleanor  Sinnickson,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  six  children:     Sarah,  Margaret,  William,  Rebecca,  George  and  Andrew. 

Of  the  family  of  Major  William  Mecum  and  Eleanor  Sinnickson,  Sarah, 
the  first  named,  married  Robert  Clark,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Robert, 
who  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  she  married 
"William  Stedhan,  of  Delaware,  and  her  third  husband  was  James  Selby. 
Margaret  Mecum,  the  second  child  of  Major  Mecum,  became  the  wife  of 
Antrim  Conarroe.  William,  the  next  younger,  died  in  1806.  Major  William 
Mecum  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  and  served  as  major 
of  the  First  battalion  of  the  Salem  militia,  with  which  command  he  was 
sent  to  New  York  in  company  with  the  "Flying  Brigade,"  under  General 
Newcomb.  The  sword  which  he  carried  through  the  struggle  that  brought 
to  the  nation  her  independence  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Mecum 
family  of  Salem,  New  Jersey.    (Major  Mecum  had  his  shoe  and  knee  buckles 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  419 

melted  up  to  make  the  hilt,  and  is  a  most  cherished  heirloom.)  The  major 
was  also  prominent  in  civic  affairs,  serving  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  from 
1774  until  1776,  and  as  the  Judge  of  Salem  county  during  the  early  days 
of  the  republic, — from  1777  until  1782,  and  in  1786  and  1787. 

Rebecca  Mecum,  the  fourth  child  of  William  and  Eleanor  (Sinnickson) 
Mecum,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Higgins,  of  Delaware.  George  Wash- 
ington Mecum  was  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Philadelphia  at  the  time 
of  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  there  and  lost  his  life  while  acting  as  nurse  to 
some  of  the  sufferers  from  that  dread  disease.  Andrew  Mecum,  the  young- 
est of  the  family,  was  born  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township,  Februarv  23, 
1780,  and  died  on  the  4th  of  October,  1814.  He  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  wealthy  men  of  Salem  county,  and  owned  several  valuable  farms. 
He  was  married  in  1808  to  Miss  Nancy  Wright,  who  died  August  6,  1852. 

Their  son.  James  Wright  Mecum,  was  born  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck  town- 
ship, Salem  county,  December  9,  1809,  and  was  educated  in  private  schools 
and  in  the  academy  in  Salem,  New  Jersey.  When  a  young  man  he  spent 
several  years  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  but  devoted  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  was  the  owner  of  several  valuable  tracts 
of  land  in  the  township  of  his  nativity.  He  was  progressive  in  his  methods, 
and  his  close  application  to  business,  his  enterprise  and  careful  management 
brought  to  him  a  handsome  competence.  The  manual  labor  on  the  farms, 
however,  was  left  to  others,  his  income  enabling  him  to  hire  a  sufficient  force 
to  cultivate  the  land.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  resident  of  Salem. 
A  very  prominent  citizen,  he  exerted  a  strong  influence  in  the  community 
and  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Whig  party  in  early  life,  but  later  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the 
Democracy.  Of  the  Episcopal  church  he  was  a  very  active  and  zealous 
member.  For  many  generations  his  family  were  connected  with  that  church, 
and  in  the  congregation  in  which  his  membership  was  placed  he  served 
as  vestryman  and  warden  and  was  also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
He  was  also  lay  reader  for  many  years,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
the  growth  and  advance  the  cause  of  the  church.  In  business  he  has  had 
other  interests  aside  from  farming,  having  been  one  of  the  founders  and 
for  many  years  treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
He  was  also  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  Rutgers  College  and  of  St.  Marv's 
Hall.  Burlington,  New  Jersey. 

On  the  24th  of  ]\Iay,  1841.  Mr.  Mecum  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lydia  Ann  Harrison,  the  wedding  ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev. 
E.  G.  Prescott.  The  lady  was  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Isabella  (Dick) 
Harrison.     Her  father  was  a  son  of  Josham  Harrison,  who  owned  a  large 


420  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

farm  tliat  now  forms  the  central  portion  of  tlie  city  of  Orange.  New  Jersey. 
He  married  Lydia  James.  Their  son  Josiah  was  a  captain  of  the  militia 
from  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  in  the  war  of  1812.  By  profession  he  was 
a  lawyer,  with  offices  in  Salem  and  Camden.  He  was  graduated  at  Prince- 
ton College  in  1790,  being  a  member  of  one  of  its  first  classes,  and  his 
thorough  knowledge  well  qualified  him  for  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  attained  considerable  prominence.  He  figured  promi- 
nently in  the  affairs  of  the  colony  and  in  the  events  which  form  the  history 
of  New  Jersey  after  the  establishment  of  the  new  Republic,  and  was  present 
at  the  inauguration  of  George  Washington  as  the  first  President  of  the 
United  States,  in  New  York  City,  in  1789.  A  man  of  broad  general  culture, 
he  had  a  rare  and  valuable  collection  of  old  books,  some  of  which  are  now 
in  possession  of  his  grandchildren,  the  Mecum  family.  He  was  for  many 
years  a  warden  and  lay  reader  in  St.  John's  church  (Episcopal)  at  Salem, 
and  like  others  of  the  family  took  a  very  active  interest  in  church  work.  He 
married  Isabella  Dick,  and  their  children  were:  Maria,  who  was  born  in 
1806  and  who  died  in  1895;  Henrietta,  born  in  1809  and  died  in  1883;  and 
Lydia  Ann,  who  was  born  January  26,  1812,  and  died  in  1887.  The  last 
named  became  the  wife  of  James  Wright  I\Iecum  and  the  mother  of  the 
following  children:  Isabella,  born  in  1842.  and  died  in  1845;  George,  who 
was  born  in  1844  and  died  in  1889;  Ellen,  who  was  born  July  i,  1846; 
James  Harrison,  who  was  Iwrn  April  12,  1849,  and  died  July  20,  1863; 
Maria,  born  January  6,  1852;  and  Charles,  born  January  15,  1855.  Charles 
Mecum,  the  youngest  son  of  the  family,  married  Margaret  Howard  Sinnick- 
son,  a  daughter  of  J.  Howard  and  Elizabeth  (Forman)  Sinnickson.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  May  29,  1890,  and  their  children  are  Frances 
Margaret,  who  was  born  April  9,  1891 ;  Charles  Harrison,  who  was  born 
July  24,  1892;  and  James  Howard,  who  was  born  ]\Iarch  14.  1894. 


SMITH  B.  SICKLER. 


Smith  Bowen  Sickler  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah  (Dickison)  Sickler 
and  was  born  in  Woodstown,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  March  14.  1835. 
He  is  now  a  prominent  citizen  of  Salem  and  a  contractor  and  builder  of 
unquestioned  ability.  He  is  of  German  descent,  the  family  having  been 
founded  in  America  by  three  brothers  who  came  over  from  the  fatherland, 
one  settHng  in  Camden,  one  in  Friesburg.  and  one  in  Gloucester.  The  one 
who  settled  in  Friesburg  is  the  ancestor  to  whom  our  subject  traces  his 
origin,   and    they   have   continued   to   live   in   that   vicinity   and   have   fol- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  421 

lowed  agriculture  for  several  generations.  John  Sickler,  the  grandfather,  was 
bom  there  and  owned  a  farm  of  five  hundred  acres  in  Pittsgrove  township. 
He  was  a  Democrat.  He  married  Hannah  Freas  and  reared  the  following 
children,  whose  progeny  are  widely  scattered:  William,  Samuel,  Henry,  the 
father.  John,  Elizabeth,  Hannah  and  Sarah.  The  grandfather  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty  years  and  the  grandmother  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

Henry  Sickler  was  born  in  Pittsgrove  township  and  learned  the  trade 
of  blacksmith  and  wheelwright.  This  work  he  carried  on  most  successfully 
for  several  years,  living  part  of  the  time  in  Woodstown,  where  he  owned  a 
farm.  He  possessed  great  business  ability  and  acquired  considerable  prop- 
ertv.  He  was  a  Republican  and  took  considerable  interest  in  local  politics. 
His  wife  was  Hannah  Dickison,  a  daughter  of  a  prominent  farmer  of  the 
same  locality.  Mat  and  Mary  (Hall)  Dickison.  The  children  born  to  this 
union  were  three,  of  whom  Smith,  our  subject,  was  the  eldest.  Henry  Freas, 
whose  sketch  is  given  on  another  page,  was  the  second;  and  Mary,  now  Mrs. 
Josiah  Medeira,  was  the  youngest.  The  father  died  in  1838,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  leaving  the  care  of  his  young  family  to  his  widow,  and  nobly  did 
she  take  up  the  burden  of  rearing  them  to  noble  manhood  and  womanhood. 
She  went  to  her  reward  April  12,  1881,  after  seventy-three  years  of  useful 
life. 

Smith  B.  Sickler  attended  private  schools  at  Salem  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  bricklayer.  He  was  fortunate 
in  getting  in  with  Richard  C.  Ballinger,  one  of  the  best  workmen  in  the  state 
and  more  recently  a  leading  contractor  of  Philadelphia,  who  taught  him  to 
be  accurate  and  careful  in  all  work  under  his  care  and  enabled  him  to  become 
a  skillful  workman  second  to  none.  He  has  followed  contracting  and  build- 
ing for  a  period  upward  of  thirty-five  years,  part  of  the  time  with  different 
partners  and  at  other  times  alone.  The  buildings  erected  by  him  are  but  so 
many  lasting  monuments  to  his  handiwork  and  are  scattered  over  a  wide  ter- 
ritory, speaking  eloquently  of  his  ability.  Some  of  the  jobs  done  by  him  are 
the  Salem  county  jail,  the  county  buildings,  Salem  City  Bank,  Gloucester 
county  almshouse,  Alloway  town  Baptist  church,  the  college  at  Bridgeton, 
the  residence  of  Dr.  Brester,  of  that  city,  and  several  smaller  jobs  there.  He 
put  up  many  of  the  factory  residences,  and  rebuilt  many  of  those  destroyed 
bv  fire,  among  them  the  post-office,  the  residences  of  William  Holtz  and 
Judge  Plummer,  and  the  E  building.  He  received  all  the  best  contracts 
and  often  employed  as  many  as  fourteen  men.  For  two  years  he  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Fairview  brick  works,  \yhich  he  established  in  1889,  together 
with  Frank  and  Larra  Lewis,  Lucius  Landrich,  Charles  Adrisson.  a  lawyer 
of  Philadelphia,  and  Richard  C.  Ballinger.    The  yard  was  afterward  disposed 


422  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

of  to  Hiles  &  Hilliard.  when  Mr.  Sickler  purchased  a  farm.  He  formed  a 
partnersliip  with  Johnson  Freas  and  continued  contracting  and  building,  at 
the  same  time  manufacturing  their  brick  at  Pentonville,  as  their  brick-yards 
were  called.  This  comprised  fifty  acres  of  land  with  five  dwellings,  one  store, 
two  large  bams,  one  ice  house,  two  large  brick  kilns,  brick  building,  frame 
office  and  six  sheds,  each  one  hundred  yards  long,  used  for  storing  brick.  A 
switch  has  lieen  put  in  connecting  it  with  Penton  station,  and  twelve  men 
are  constantly  employed  there.  The  capacity  of  the  kilns  is  four  hundred 
thousand  brick  per  year,  and  only  the  best  quality  of  any  grade  is  put  on  the 
market.  Besides  common  brick  they  make  the  kaolin  white  brick,  a  superior 
building  material,  and  a  fine  grade  of  fire  brick.  They  manufacture  for  local 
trade  and  enjoy  the  reputation  of  turning  out  only  first-class  work.  He  fur- 
nished the  brick  for  the  Salem  filter,  and  in  that,  as  in  all  other  contracts. 
takes  great  pride  in  supplying  only  the  best  article.  The  partnership  with 
Mr.  Freas  terminated  at  the  expiration  of  four  years,  when  -Mr.  Freas  was 
succeeded  by  Zaccheus  Sickler.  He  was  also  connected  with  Johnson  Freas 
for  a  short  time.  After  Zaccheus  Sickler  retired  our  subject  carried  on  the 
business  alone. 

Mr.  Sickler  was  married  ]March  4,  1857,  to  Alary  Freas,  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Freas,  a  fanner.  Ten  children  have  been  bom  to  them:  Edward, 
who  was  born  February  13,  1858.  and  died  of  lockjaw  in  his  thirty-seventh 
year,  was  a  merchant  at  Frogtown  and  married  Miss  Lizzie  Ridgeway.  by 
whom  he  had  three  children. — one  that  died  in  infancy.  Joseph,  deceased, 
and  Roliert.  Lavina.  who  was  born  in  i860,  married  William  Dunn,  a  farmer 
of  Penu's  Xeck  township,  and  has  two  daughters, — Nellie  and  Emma. 
Emma,  who  was  born  in  1862.  married  John  Taylor,  a  bricklayer,  and  they 
died,  leaving  one  child.  Elsie,  since  deceased.  Charles,  deceased,  who  was 
bom  in  1863.  and  a  farmer:  he  married  Georgia  Sheppard  and  had  two 
children. — Smith  B.  and  Artie.  Harry,  who  was  born  in  1865.  and  is  a 
bricklayer  and  contractor  at  Salem:  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Flanagan  and 
has  four  children. — Morgan.  Mar\'.  Mabel  and  Lourene.  Belle,  who  was  born 
in  1867  and  was  the  wife  of  Joshua  .W'heaton,  died  but  a  few  years  after  the 
marriage.  Susie,  who  was  born  in  1869.  married  Aaron  Harris,  and  has 
since  died.  She  had  one  child.  Wilbur,  now  deceased.  Hannah.  Howard 
and  Walter  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Sickler  is  independent  in  his  politics,  believing  in  giving  his  support 
to  the  best  man  rather  than  sticking  too  closely  to  party  lines  without  due 
regard  to  the  qualifications  of  the  candidate.  He  has  been  a  freeholder  at 
Salem  two  years  and  served  as  constable  for  the  same  length  of  time.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Red  Men  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.     During  the 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  423 

civil  war  he  belonged  to  the  home  guards  of  Salem,  and  for  three  years  was 
a  member  of  the  No.  i  Band  of  this  city,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of  this  city,  in  which  he  is  a  willing 
worker  and  liberal  contributor. 


FREDERICK  C.  GAYNER. 

Frederick  C.  Gayner  was  born  December  8,  185S,  in  Bristol,  England, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Francis  (Atkin)  Gayner.  John  Gayner  was  the 
founder  of  the  Gayner  Glass  Company,  of  Salem,  and  was  also  a  native  of 
Bristol,  England,  as  was  his  father,  Edward  Gayner.  who  was  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  glass  factory  there.  John  Gayner,  whose  biography  is  given  at 
length  on  another  page,  learned  the  trade  of  glass-blower  and  in  1866  brought 
his  family  to  America,  where  after  many  changes  he  settled  down  at  Salem, 
New  Jersey,  and  started  a  glass  factory,  which  is  now  one  of  the  principal 
industries  in  this  part  of  the  state,  employing  about  two  hundred  men, 
women  and  girls  to  carry  on  the  work.  Owing  to  his  industry  and  persever- 
ance the  plant  is  run  on  a  paying  basis,  bringing  a  neat  income  not  only  to 
the  owners,  but  also  to  many  others  who  derive  their  support  from  its  oper- 
ation. John  Gayner  is  a  man  of  extraordinary  business  ability,  as  has 
been  demonstrated  in  his  management  of  the  factory,  and  possesses  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  the  entire  community  for  his  upright,  honorable  deal- 
ings and  the  kindly,  genial  bearing  of  his  every-day  life.  He  was  married 
to  Francis  Atkin,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  six  children  were  born  to 
them,  four  reaching  mature  years:  Edward  J.,  who  is  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Gayner  Glass  Company;  Frederick  C,  our  subject:  Francis  and  Mar- 
garet. His  wife  died  in  January,  1861,  and  the  following  October  he  was 
united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss  Elizaljeth  W'ilkins,  by  whom  he 
has  two  children:  William,  and  Eliza  Florence,  who  married  Frank  Morri- 
son, an  employe  in  the  ofifice  of  the  Gayner  Glass  Company. 

Frederick  Gayner  was  a  lad  of  some  eight  years  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  this  country.  Here  his  education  was  mostly  obtained  and  he  entered 
his  father's  factory,  learning  the  trade  of  glass-blower.  This  work,  however, 
he  at  length  abandoned  and  in  1897  he  opened  a  general  merchandise  estab- 
lishment in  Salem,  which  he  has  conducted  since  January  10  of  that  year. 
He  carries  a  general  stock  and  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  having  customers 
from  many  miles  through  the  surrounding  country.  He  is  always  affable 
and  courteous  in  his  treatment  of  his  patrons  and  endeavors  to  cater  to  their 
taste. 


424  BIOCKAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

On  ^lay  lo,  1882.  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Bessie  W.  Howard, 
a  daughter  of  Asl)ury  Howard,  a  retired  capitahst  of  Philadelphia.  They 
had  one  child,  Frederick  W.,  whose  little  life  was  lent  them  but  for  a  short 
season  when  he  was  taken  to  blossom  in  the  garden  of  their  Heavenly  Father, 
who  said,  "Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  Heaven."  They  are  members  of  the 
Broadway  i\lethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr.  Gayner  is  also  connected 
with  Fenwick  Lodge,  No.  126,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Friends'  Lodge,  No.  7, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  is  considered  one  of 
Salem's  representative  business  men. 


CHARLES   MECUM. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  w-as  born  in  the  city  of  Salem,  New  Jersey, 
January  15,  1855,  h's  parents  being  James  W.  and  Lydia  Ann  (Harrison) 
Mecum.  His  preliminary  education,  obtained  in  the  Salem  academy,  was 
supplemented  by  a  course  in  Burlington  College,  and  in  1881  he  was 
graduated  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
same  year  he  was  admitted  to  tlie  bar  of  New  Jersey,  and  began  practice 
in  Salem.  He  has  been  licensed  to  practice  in  all  the  state  courts  and  in 
the  United  States  district  courts.  He  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  careful 
lawyer  and  safe  counselor. 

Mr.  Mecum  has  long  taken  an  active  and  zealous  interest  in  the  cause  of 
education  and  for  seventeen  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation of  the  city  of  Salem.  Other  business  interests  claim  his  attention.  He 
is  a  director  in  the  Salem  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  in 
1898  he  built  the  Mecum  block,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Walnut 
streets,  which  is  the  finest  office  building  in  the  city  and  one  of  the  most 
substantial  structures  of  Salem.  It  is  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  home  which 
belonged  to  his  grandfather.  Dr.  Dick,  and  is  fitted  up  for  stores,  lodges  and 
offices. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Mecum  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never 
aspired  to  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his  profession  and  personal 
interests.  He  is  a  member  and  vestryman  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  the  New  Jersey  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, in  all  of  which  organizations — religious,  social  and  professional — he 
takes  a  deep  interest. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  1890,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mecum 
and  Miss  Margaret  Howard  Sinnickson,  a  daughter  of  J.  Howard  and  Eliza- 


^-^H^  Ji^£6Z^i^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  425 

beth  Sinnickson.    They  now  have  three  children:  Frances  Margaret,  born  in 
1891;   Charles  Harrison,  July  24,  1892;   and  James  H.,  March  14,  1894. 


JOSEPH  N.  MAYHEW. 

Among  the  families  that  have  long  been  resident  of  Pittsgrove,  Salem 
county,  perhaps  none  is  better  known  than  the  Mayhews.  They  are  of 
English  origin.  Several  generations  ago  three  brothers  of  the  name  of  May- 
hew  came  to  this  country  from  England,  and  from  one  of  them  is  descended 
Joseph  N.  Mayhew,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Eleazer  Mayhew,  the  great-grandfather  of  Joseph  N., owned  and  occupied 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Samuel  Johnson  farm  near  Pittsgrove,  and  it  was 
he  who  built  the  old  red  brick  house  in  which  Mr.  Johnson  now  lives.  His 
son  Stanford,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  this  farm,  and  the 
latter's  son  Enoch  was  born  on  an  adjoining  farm,  the  one  now  occupied  by 
Joseph  N.  The  Mayhews  for  the  most  part  have  been  farmers.  Enoch 
Mayhew  was  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Daretown,  and  was  noted  for  his  deep  piety.  At  different  times  in  life  he 
held  township  office,  but  he  never  sought  official  honors  nor  was  he  a  poli- 
tician in  any  sense  of  the  word.  He  died  in  1888.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  nee  Mary  P.  Severtman,  died  childless;  his  second  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Hiirst,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  Hurst, 
died  February  i,  1896.  By  the  latter  marriage  there  were  two  children,  of 
whom  only  Joseph  N.  is  living. 

Joseph  N.  Mayhew  received  his  early  training  in  the  common  school  and 
later  was  a  student  in  the  South  Jersey  Institute,  at  Bridgeton,  and  also  at 
Daretown.  Reared  on  a  farm,  he  naturally  engaged  in  farming  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself.  After  his  father's  death  he  came  into  pos- 
session of  the  home  farm,  one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  where  he  has  since  lived 
and  carried  on  general  farming,  giving  special  attention  to  the  dairy  business. 

Mr.  Mayhew  is  a  Republican.  He  was  elected  a  freeholder  in  1887,  for 
a  period  of  three  years,  and  was  again  elected  in  1895  and  1898,  and  is  now 
serving  in  that  capacity.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  political  matters, 
serving  as  a  delegate  to  conventions,  etc.,  and  always  has  at  heart  the  best 
interests  of  the  locality  in  which  he  lives.  Religiously,  like  his  father,  he 
is  a  Presbyterian,  and  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  church  at  Daretown.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  Mason,  identified  with  the  lodge  at  Elmer. 

December  15,  1883,  Mr.  Mayhew  married  Miss  Ella  Burough,  a  daughter 
of  William  Burough,  of  Mickleton,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey;  and  they 


426  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

have  one  daughter.   Elizalietli.     Mrs.   Ma^liew  was  before  her  marriage  a 
school  teacher. 


WILLIAM  W.  COLDER. 

William  \V.  Golder,  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  well  known  farmer,  living 
at  Centerton,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  forms  the  subject  of  this  biograph- 
ical notice.  He  was  born  at  Centerton,  February  25,  1838,  the  son  of  Samuel 
Golder,  who  was  born  at  Parker's  Corner.  His  father  was  Joseph  Golder, 
a  native  of  Tuckahoe.  Much  concerning  the  Golder  family  will  be  found  in 
connection  with  the  sketch  of  James  W.  Golder,  who  is  our  subject's  brother. 

William  W.  Golder  spent  his  boyhood  days,  as  most  of  the  youth  of  his 
days  did,  in  trying  to  gain  a  fair  education  and  then  becoming  master  of 
some  good  and  useful  trade.  He  chose  that  of  blacksmith,  which  trade  he 
works  at  some,  even  to  this  time  in  his  life.  January  4,  1861,  he  was  married 
to  Drucilla  Nicholson,  daughter  of  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Nicholson,  of  Cross 
Keys,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey.  By  this  marriage  union  three  chil- 
dren were  born,  two  of  whom  are  still  living.  Samuel,  of  Mount  Holly,  and 
William,  who  is  still  at  home  and  works  in  his  father's  shop. 

Ever)'  true  American  citizen  is  allied  with  some  political  party.  ;\Ir. 
Golder  afifiliates  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  held  numerous  local 
ofifices.  including  that  of  township  committeeman,  school  trustee,  etc.  He 
has  been  the  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Centralia,  Pitt's  Grove  town- 
ship, for  twenty-two  years.  In  civic  society  matters  he  is  an  honored  member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows  order,  and  has  been  the  president  of  the  corporate 
board  of  that  lodge  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  held  all  the  various  offices  of 
his  local  lodge,  and  stands  well  as  an  Odd  Fellow.  At  the  present  time  he 
is  acting  as  warden  of  his  lodge. 

Besides  his  blacksmithing  operations,  ^Ir.  Gokler  carries  on  farming,  on  a 
beautiful  eleven-acre  tract,  from  which  he  ])roduces  much.  Altogether,  Mr. 
Golder  is  a  busy  man.  Between  his  farm,  his  large  blacksmithing  business 
and  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  official  duties  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  he 
finds  but  few  idle  hours  in  the  months  as  they  come  and  go. 


ALBERT  W.  LAWRENCE. 

.\lbert  \\'.  Lawrence,  of  Elmer.  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  one  of  the 
highly  respected  farmers  of  Lower  Pittsgrove  town,  was  born  at  Waterloo, 
Canada  East,  October  16,  1855.    His  grandfather.  Hezekiah  Lawrence,  was 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  427 

a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  conflict  and  the  family  emigrated  from  Mas- 
sachusetts to  Canada.  His  son  Mark  L.,  was  our  subject's  father,  also  a  native 
of  Canada,  where  he  followed  farming  and  also  manufactured  furniture, 
doing  a  large,  paying  business,  for  many  years.  In  1865  he  came  to  this 
county,  settling  on  a  farm  where  he  hoped  to  regain  his  failing  health;  he 
survived  until  1887.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Advent  Association, 
an  upright  citizen  and  an  excellent  business  man.  He  married  Sarah  V. 
Bowker,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cushing  Bowker,  of  Massachusetts; 
she  died  in  1894.  Their  children  were:  Lizzie,  wife  of  Caleb  Luther,  of 
Lawrence,  Kansas;  Alice,  widow  of  Henry  Cutting,  of  Viiieland,  New  Jersey; 
and  A.  W.  Lawrence,  our  subject. 

Mr.  Lawrence,  whose  name  heads  this  notice,  attended  the  common 
country  schools  of  the  locality  where  he  resided  when  a  lad,  and  a  little  later 
in  life  settled  on  the  farm — the  old  homestead.  He  now  has  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres  of  land  and  a  fine  herd  of  registered  Jersey  cattle, — 
twenty-seven  head  in  all.  The  milk  from  these  cows  is  in  great  demand  and 
for  the  past  five  years  has  gone  to  the  hotel  at  Atlantic  City,  New  Jersey. 
Mr.  Lawrence  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  has  held  various  local  offices, 
including  that  of  a  county  trustee  of  the  almshouse,  in  1881-2-3.  He  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has  been  a  steward  for  eighteen  years. 
He  is  also  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Red  Men's  civic  orders. 
He  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  Red  Men's  lodge. 

Of  his  domestic  relations  it  may  lie  said  that  he  married.  Octolier  3,  1877, 
Rachael  Creamer,  the  daughter  of  Jaco1)  Creamer,  of  this  vicinity,  lielonging 
to  a  well  known  family.  To  our  respected  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Minnie  .A..  Irene  M.,  Edgar  .A.,  .\da  M., 
Bessie  L. 


J(3HX  M.  KROM. 


John  'SI.  Krom,  one  of  the  old  residents  of  Upper  Pittsgro\e  township, 
Salem  county,  comes  from  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  His  great  grandfather,  John  Krom.  died  while  a  soldier  in 
the  Continental  army,  in  1776,  and  he  and  most  of  his  descendants  followed 
farming  for  a  livelihood.  He  and  his  posterity,  in  the  direct  line  of  descent 
to  our  subject,  and  including  the  latter,  were  born  on  the  same  fine  old 
homestead  in  this  township,  about  a  mile  from  the  present  home  of  John  M. 
Krom.  Harman,  a  son  of  the  Revolutionary  hero,  was  born  in  1773,  and 
Samuel  D.,  a  son  of  Harman  and  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1802 
and  died  in  1862.     He  was  very  prominent  in  the  work  of  the  Presbyterian 


428  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   FIRST 

denomination,  lieing  a  memlicr  and  a  deacon  in  tlie  clnnxd:  at  Daretown. 
He  made  a  success  of  life,  in  every  respect,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  gen- 
uine regard  of  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  Sarah  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Mayhew,  of  the  same  locality.  She  departed  this  life  in  1834,  leaving  one 
child,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  An  interesting  fact  in  regard  to  the  family 
relates  to  the  name,  the  tradition  which  has  been  handed  down  from  one  to 
another  being  that  the  name  was  originally  spelled  Crumb;  but  owing  to  the 
prejudice  or  notion  of  a  teacher  and  the  foolish  ridicule  of  schoolmates,  the 
children  of  one  generation,  many  years  ago,  changed  the  orthography  to  the 
present  form. 

John  M.  Krom  was  born  August  14,  1831,  as  prc\iously  stated,  on  the 
old  family  homestead,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  immediate  locality, 
his  interests  being  thoroughly  identified  with  Salem  county.  Being  an  only 
child,  he  had  unusually  good  advantages  for  his  day  and  accjuired  a  liberal 
education.  True,  he  was  deprived  of  a  loving  mother's  care  when  he  was 
very  young,  but  his  noble  father  was  the  more  kind  and  attentive  to  the  lad's 
needs  and  desires,  as  he  grew  to  maturity.  He  remained  on  the  farm,  be- 
coming a  practical  agriculturist,  and  in  1859  he  came  to  Daretown  and  for 
the  following  five  years  kept  a  store.  Under  the  administration  of  President 
Buchanan  he  held  the  office  of  postmaster,  to  the  complete  satisfaction  of 
everyone  concerned,  and  for  five  years  he  served  as  collector  of  his  home 
township.  He  now  owns  sixty  acres  of  excellent  farm  land,  and  gives  his 
whole  time  and  efforts  to  its  cultivation. 

In  1853  Mr.  Krom  married  Achsah  Richnian,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Rich- 
man,  and  to  them  two  children  were  born,  namely:  Sarah  and  Ella,  the  latter 
the  wife  of  Israel  F.  Newkirk,  of  Upper  Pittsgrove.  The  family  are  highly 
esteemed  and  their  place  in  this  community  could  not  easily  be  filled. 


FREDERICK  FOX. 


This  well  know  and  most  highly  respected  citizen  of  Centerton,  Xew 
Jersey,  comes  of  an  old  pioneer  family,  and  by  reason  of  a  long  and  eventful 
life  very  naturally  finds  a  place  in  this  connection.  He  was  born  near  Friend- 
ship. Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  June  26,  1824.  The  name  Frederick 
seems  to  be  a  favorite  family  name.  Our  subject's  father's  name  was  Fred- 
erick. He  was  born  in  1802,  near  the  birthplace  of  our  subject,  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  his  father  (our  subject's  grandfather)  also  was  named 
Frederick.  He  was  born  near  Malaga,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  and 
his  father,  Frederick,  came  from  Germany  and  was  a  cooper  by  trade.     He 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW    JERSEY.  429 

was  beyond  doubt  the  first  man  to  make  tar  from  pine  knots.  Our  subject's 
great  grandfather  was  in  the  RevoUitionary  war.  The  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  lived  and  died  in  the 
vicinity  of  Friendship,  departing  this  life  in  1858.  He  was  a  large  land-owner 
and  farmed  on  an  extensive  scale  for  the  state  in  which  he  lived.  His  wife, 
Lidia,  was  the  daughter  of  Nathan  Coombs,  of  Friendship,  and  of  a  noted 
family.  She  died  in  1894,  aged  eighty-nine  years.  They  reared  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  still  survive:  Our  subject;  Mary,  wife  of  John 
DuBois;  George  M.;  Nathan,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead  at  Friendship; 
and  Elizabeth,  widow  of  John  Redfield,  of  Bridgeton. 

He  of  whom  we  write  this  notice,  received  a  common-school  education 
and  very  early  in  life  began  to  cultivate  the  soil.  In  1848  he  purchased  his 
farm  and  the  following  year  moved  to  the  same,  which  at  that  time  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres;  but  he  now  has  two  hundred  and  ten 
acres.  November  31,  1846,  he  married  Berlinda  DuBois,  a  daughter  of 
Robert  DuBois.  Their  eight  children  are:  Robert,  residing  at  Centerton; 
Benjamin,  at  Willow  Grove;  Frederick,  at  Bridgeton;  Franklin,  at  Friend- 
ship; Charles,  at  Daretown;  Thomas,  at  Willow  Grove;  and  William  T.  and 
Lizzie,  at  home. 

Mr.  Fox  is  a  devout  man,  who  in  i860  united  with  the  Protestant  Metho- 
dist church  at  Friendship,  and  has  served  as  one  of  the  trustees  ever  since,  or 
for  more  than  thirty-nine  years.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  June  16,  1849,  a  half  century  ago,  and  has  been  the  treasurer  of  his 
lodge  since  1880.  He  has  held  every  office  in  the  lodge  except  that  of  sec- 
retary. 

In  tracing  out  the  goings  and  comings  of  this  gentleman  the  reader  can- 
not fail  to  be  impressed  w^ith  the  one  fact  that  this  man  has  held  many  im- 
portant positions,  in  lodge  and  church,  for  so  long  a  term  of  years  as  to  prove 
that  such  places  were  filled  ably  and  well  from  the  very  first.  He  is  a  man 
of  method  and  stability;  hence  his  life  has  been  fraught  with  more  than  the 
ordinarv'  success. 


J.  T.  MAYHEW 


J.  T.  ]\Iayhew,  a  well  known  dairyman  of  Pittsgrove  township  and  the 
collector  of  the  township  for  the  past  seven  years,  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  influential  men  of  Salem  county.  New  Jersey.  He  was  born  November 
II,  1850.  in  Elmer,  this  county,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Johnson) 
Mayhew.  John  Mayhew  was  a  son  of  Isaac  Mayhew  and  was  a  favorite  black- 
smith of  Elmer  about  1850.    From  there  he  moved  to  Cedarville,  where  he 


430  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 

kept  a  hotel  tor  a  number  of  years.  In  1865  he  moved  to  the  farm  now  oc- 
cupied by  our  subject,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1896.  He 
was  prominent  in  his  locality  and  greatly  esteemed.  His  wife  was  Maria, 
daughter  of  David  Johnson,  of  this  county.  She  passed  to  her  reward  in  1893. 
three  years  before  her  husband,  leaving  seven  children,  namely:  George, 
who  keeps  a  shoe  store  of  Bridgeton:  William  A.,  a  merchant  of  Cedarville: 
Emma,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Mayhew.  of  Atlantic  City:  J.  T..  our  subject;  Elmer,  of 
Camden.  Xew  Jer.sey:  Matilda  (Mrs.  Isaac  Johnson),  of  Pittsgrove;  and 
Sally  (Mrs.  Damon  Hitchner),  of  Atlantic  City. 

J.  T.  Mayhew  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  early  learned  the  prin- 
ciples underlying  successful  farming,  at  the  same  time  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  neighborhood,  .\fter  reaching  manhood  he  took  charge 
of  his  father's  land,  which  consists  of  thirty-six  acres,  and  turned  it  into  a 
dair\-  farm.  He  has  one  of  the  best  regulated  and  well-cared-for  dairies  in  this 
part  of  the  state,  while  his  fine  herd  of  fifteen  registered  cattle  furnish  a  sup- 
ply of  milk  equal  to  any  herd  in  this  country;  and  it  is  in  constant  demand  by 
those  who  have  used  it  and  know  the  pure  article.  It  would  be  impossible 
for  Mr.  Mayhew  to  keep  a  sufficiently  large  herd  of  cows  to  meet  the  demands 
made  upon  him  for  milk. 

He  was  married  February  5,  1880,  to  Miss  Dell  Keeley.  a  daughter  of 
William  Keeley,  of  this  section.  They  have  two  bright  children. — Raymond 
L.,  and  Elmer  C, — both  living  at  their  parental  home.  Mr.  Mayhew  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  was  elected  to  the  office  of  town  collector  ten  years 
ago.  He  is  one  of  the  genial,  whole-souled  men  for  which  southern  Xew 
Jersey  is  noted. 


JAMES  D.  KELLEY. 


This  gentleman,  who  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  Gloucester  county, 
has  his  place  of  business  in  Philadelphia,  but  makes  his  summer  home  at 
Pitman's  Grove.  Xew  Jersey.  He  was  born  at  Glassboro.  March  17,  1861, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (McClearen)  Kelley.  His  father, 
a  native  of  DubHn,  Ireland,  came  to  the  United  States  early  in  the  "50s  and 
in  i860  located  at  Glassboro.  In  1856  he  married  Margaret,  a  daughter  of 
John  McClearen.  of  Camden,  X'ew  Jersey,  and  they  had  three  children,  of 
whom  two  are  living.  James  D.,  and  Kate,  the  wife  of  D.  R.  Sparks,  of  Cam- 
den. Mr.  Kelley  was  a  highly  respected  citizen,  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  died  in  1866.  His  wife  is  still  living. 
Our  subject  was  a  mere  child  when  his  father  died,  and  from  seven  to  twelve 
years  of  age  he  attended  school,  then  began  work  in  the  Whitney  Glass 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  431 

Works  in  his  native  town.  In  1883  he  went  into  business  for  himself,  start- 
ing a  grocery  store  at  Woodbury.  The  following  year,  however,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Ensline  &  Zurn,  manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in  lubricating 
oils.  For  five  years  he  was  a  traveling  salesman  for  this  company,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  O.  F.  Zurn,  the  head  of  the  concern,  bought  out  his  part- 
ner and  admitted  ,Mr.  Kelley  as  one  of  the  firm.  In  1894  the  company 
became  a  close  stock  corporation,  in  which  Mr.  Kelley  is  a  large  stockholder 
and  also  is  its  secretary.  They  do  an  extensive  business,  their  products  being 
sold  all  over  the  United  States  and  in  the  West  Indies. 

Mr.  Kelley's  success  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  He  is 
emphatically  a  self-made  man.  and  while  still  young  in  years  has  made  for 
himself  a  fine  reputation  in  the  commercial  world  and  is  already  enjoying 
the  results  of  his  industry  and  faithfulness  to  duty.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  W.  C.  Hamilton  Lodge,  No. 
500,  F.  &  A.  M.;  T.  B.  Freeman  Chapter,  No.  242,  R.  A.  M.:  Kadosh  Com- 
mandery.  No.  29,  in  which  he  is  junior  warden,  and  Lu  Lu  Temple,  Mystic 
Shrine. 

Air.  Kelley  was  married  June  14.  1891,  to  Miss  Eva  Holeton,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  four  children  have  blessed  their  union:  Edith  H.,  James  W., 
Jean  G.  and  John  Raymond.  The  family  spend  their  summers  in  a  beautiful 
home  at  Pitman  Gro\-e,  making  their  residence  during  the  winter  at  1715 
Wallace  street,  in  Philadelphia. 


JOSEPH  POWERS. 


Joseph  Powers  is  a  contractor  and  builder  of  Salem,  whose  perseverance 
ami  industry  have  placed  him  high  in  the  ranks  of  skilled  workmen.  He  was 
born  at  Salem,  this  county,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Mattick) 
Powers.  The  name  is  of  German  origin.  John  Powers,  the  grandfather, 
lived  at  Penn's  Neck,  where  he  was  engaged  in  husbandry.  He  was  a  Whig 
and  a  devout  member  of  the  early  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  his 
death,  in  his  seventy-third  year,  was  accounted  a  great  loss.  He  married 
Margaret  McKasson,  who  died  in  her  fiftieth  year,  leaving  him  fourteen 
children.  They  were  Elizabeth.  Mrs".  John  Casperson;  Michael,  a  farmer  who 
married  Rebecca  Dunn;  Sarah,  Mrs.  William  Dunn;  Catherine,  the  widow 
of  Israel  Brown,  a  broommaker;  Samuel,  who  married  Rebecca  Hancock; 
Ellen,  Mrs.  Thomas  Dunn;  Judith.  Mrs.  Ephraim  Shaw;  Mary,  Mrs.  John 
Ellwell;  John,  who  married  Mary  Fenton;  Joseph,  a  wheelwright,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Fowler;  William,  who  married  three  times, — .\nn  J.  Lippin- 
cott,  Mary  Wren  and  Rachel  Hancock;  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject; 


432 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  FIRST 


Lot  R.,  a  carpenter,  who  married  Ruth  Swing  and  resided  in  Salem;  and 
Edward,  a  farmer  who  married  Mary  Patterson.  But  two  of  the  family  are 
now  living, — Judith,  who  is  upwards  of  eighty-four  years  old,  and  Thomas. 

Thomas  Powers  attended  school  at  Penn's  Neck  township  when  a  lad, 
and  his  summers  were  employed  in  work  about  the  farm.  While  still  a  boy 
he  came  to  Salem  and  was  apprenticed  to  George  W.  Filer,  with  whom  he 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder.  Then,  with  his  brother  Lot,  as 
Powers  Brothers,  he  engaged  in  contracting  for  himself  and  continued  up 
to  the  death  of  his  l^rother,  when  our  subject  was  taken  in  as  a  partner.  He 
was  a  quiet,  unostentatious  man.  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mar}-  ^lat- 
lack,  who  was  born  in  1832,  and  died  March  17,  1876.  The  ceremony  was 
celebrated  December  16,  1856,  and  twenty  years  of  happy  married  life  was 
their  portion.  Two  children  blessed  their  home:  Joseph,  our  subject:  and 
Georgianna,  who  was  born  March  i,  1861,  and  died  November  23,  1883. 

Joseph  Powers  received  the  benefit  of  instruction  in  the  public  schools 
of  Salem  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  left  school  and  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder  of  his  father.  Later  he  took  private  les- 
sons in  architecture  under  Norris  H.  Stratton.  He  took  pains  with  his 
work  and  furnished  many  of  the  plans  from  which  he  builded.  Among  the 
buildings  constructed  by  himself  and  father  may  be  named  the  R.  M.  Acton 
school.  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  Pennsville,  City  National 
Bank,  Schaffer  Hotel,  annex  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Iniilding  at  Salem,  Walnut 
Street  Methodist  church,  canning-house  for  the  Star  Brothers,  at  the  foot  of 
Penn  and  Delaware  streets,  and  many  private  residences.  They  employ  as 
many  as  fifty  men  and  turn  out  only  the  best  workmanship.  He  was  married 
February  14,  1883  to  Miss  Emma  Hires,  a  daughter  of  Jarvis  Hires,  a  stock- 
dealer  of  this  city.  They  have  been  blessed  with  three  children :  Mary,  de- 
ceased; Thomas,  born  July  17,  1886;  and  Paul  H.,  born  January  26,  1894. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  is  not  an  aspirant  for  political  preferment. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Hepta- 
sophs. 

CHARLES  H.  SIMMERMAN. 

"Life  is  meaningless  unless  it  is  universal  and  coherent."  It  is  in  a  helpful 
relation  to  our  time,  a  sympathetic  union  witli  the  surrounding  current  of 
thought,  feeling  and  purpose  that  we  can  realize  the  worth  of  our  own  iden- 
tity.   To  consciously  ally  one's  self  with  any  of  the  mighty  movements  that 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  433 

are  shaping  the  future  is  to  invest  life  with  new  dignity  and  power.  The  pres- 
ent is  a  time  of  combinations  for  varied  aims,  for  man  sees  more  and  more 
clearly  his  weakness  as  an  individual  as  compared  with  his  strength  in  union 
with  others.  Mr.  Simmerman  has  realized  most  fully  the  importance  and 
need  of  organized  effort  in  securing  for  the  laboring  classes  recognition  of 
their  true  worth  and  position  in  the  world,  and  has  been  an  active  worker  in 
the  mighty  movements  which  have  demanded  and  secured,  in  a  large  meas- 
ure, this  recognition.  He  has  given  the  question  his  most  earnest  attention, 
has  studied  it  from  its  various  standpoints  and  his  efiforts  have  been  most 
efifective  and  far-reaching  in  their  influence. 

Charles  H.  Simmerman  was  born  July  31,  1836,  near  Glassboro,  Glou- 
cester county.  New  Jersey,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Fisler)  Simmer- 
man. The  ancestry  are  Swedish  and  Swiss,  but  for  many  years  have  been 
connected  with  this  state.  John  Simmerman,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, resided  in  Glassboro  and  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  the  former 
being  Daniel,  John  and  Abram.  John  Simmerman,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Glassboro  about  1800.  acquired  a  common-school  education  and 
became  a  master  shearer  in  a  glass  manufactory.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in 
fanning  in  Gloucester  county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protest- 
ant church  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth.  His  death  occurred  in  1842,  at  the 
age  of  fort\--two  years,  and  his  wife  long  survived  him,  passing  away  in  1870, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  Esther  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Madara,  a  farmer,  and  they 
have  two  sons. —  John  and  Samuel.  Julia  is  the  wife  of  George  Shields,  a 
shoemaker,  and  their  children  are  Esther,  Henry  and  George.  William  mar- 
ried a  Miss  Crane,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, — John  and  Wilmer, — and  after 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  was  again  married,  and  had  four  children  by  the 
second  union.  He  was  a  wood  turner  by  occupation  and  resided  in  Franklin- 
ville.  New  Jersey.  Joseph  was  married  and  had  one  daughter,  Anna.  Cath- 
erine, twin  sister  of  Joseph,  became  the  wife  of  Richard  Dempsey,  and  their 
children  are  Emma,  deceased:  Ida:  ^Irs.  Lulu  Skinner,  of  Clayton,  Kate  and 
Richard.  Charles  is  the  next  of  the  family.  John,  a  glass-blower  of  Swedes- 
boro,  married  Lydia  Stone,  and  their  children  were  Edward.  Sherman,  Ida, 
Harry  and  Zady.  Lorenzo,  a  glass-blower  living  in  Millville.  married  Kate 
McCurdy,  and  their  children  are  Frank;  Lincoln,  deceased;  Bruce;  Andy; 
Burt  and  Rachel. 

Mr.  Simmerman.  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  but  was  only  six  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died  and  his  privileges  were  necessarily  limited,  for  his  mother  put  him  to 
live  with  a  farmer  at  the  age  of  eight  vears.    For  six  vears  he  lived  with  Rob- 


434  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ert  Hewitt  at  the  Cross  Roads,  in  Salem  county,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  self 
pride  with  him  that  from  the  time  he  was  eight  years  old  he  has  always  gained 
his  own  living;  and  to  this  early  experience  he  attributes  much  of  that  inde- 
pendence of  character  that  has  characterized  his  subsequent  life. 

In  1850,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  entered  the  Whitney  Glass  Works  at 
Glassboro  as  tending  boy,  becoming  an  apprentice  and  serving  a  five-year 
term  at  the  glass-blower's  trade.  He  followed  that  occupation  for  twenty- 
five  years,  during  which  time  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  labor  ques- 
tions. He  joined  the  first  Glass  Blowers'  Union  ever  organized  in  New 
Jersey,  in  1856,  and  became  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  energetic  workers 
in  its  behalf.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  went  to  Crowleyville,  New  Jersey, 
where  he  instituted  a  union  of  the  glass-blowers  and  then  attended  the  second 
general  convention  at  Millville.  He  was  then  only  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
but  he  made  a  close  study  of  this  branch  of  labor  and  was  well  fitted  for  lead- 
ership. Because  of  his  aggressive  attitude  in  the  interests  of  labor,  however, 
he  was  black-listed  by  the  manufacturers,  and  for  a  period  of  more  than 
twenty  years  he  on  different  occasions  was  deprived  of  employment  at  the 
trade  because  of  the  part  he  took  in  its  affairs. 

Mr.  Simmerman  subsequently  became  a  salesman  for  the  firm  of  Bodine, 
Thomas  &  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  a  year,  and  in  that  po- 
sition he  was  enabled  to  study  the  labor  questions  from  a  different  standpoint. 
In  1870  he  was  the  president  of  the  Improved  Glass-Blowers'  League,  since 
which  time  three  other  organizations  have  been  instituted  among  the  glass- 
workers,  under  different  names.  In  1874  he  began  the  agitation  of  the  idea 
of  a  bureau  of  labor  statistics,  and  in  1878,  by  act  of  the  legislature,  a  depart- 
ment was  organized.  He  was  made  secretary  of  the  bureau  in  1881  and  held 
the  position  for  twelve  years,  while  in  1893  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the 
bureau  by  governor  Wurtz,  continuing  in  that  position  till  1898.  Prior  to 
1877  labor  had  received  no  recognition  from  the  public  or  from  legislation, 
but  in  that  year  Mr.  Simmerman  was  a  delegate  from  Camden  county  to  the 
Democratic  convention,  where  he  first  introduced  the  idea  of  a  bureau  of 
labor  statistics.  After  hard  labor  he  succeeded  in  getting  a  resolution  for 
the  institution  of  such  a  bureau  inserted  in  the  platform  of  the  party,  and 
during  the  campaign  wrote  and  worked  for  its  success.  A  majority  of  both 
houses  of  the  legislature  were  of  that  party,  he  prepared  the  act  and  went  to 
Trenton  every  week  until  it  finally  became  a  law.  The  importance  of  this 
measure  to  the  labor  interests  of  the  country  is  inestimable.  He  has  always 
been  most  earnest  in  his  eft'orts  to  benefit  the  laboring  classes  and  has  been  a 
close  student  of  social  and  economic  problems. 

Mr.  Simmerman  has  several  times  been  elected  to  local  offices.     He  was 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  435 

chosen  as  a  member  of  the  Ijoard  of  school  trustees  of  Salem,  New  Jersey, 
in  1867,  and  was  one  of  the  stanch  advocates  of  the  free-school  system.  He 
was  elected  the  assessor  of  Camden  in  1875  by  a  majority  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-six,  serving  a  three-year  term,  and  in  1876  was  a  candidate  for 
congress  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  receiving  eight  hundred  more  votes  than 
were  given  Tilden,  in  the  district.  He  resided  in  Trenton  from  1S81  until 
1898,  when  he  came  to  Wildwood,  where  in  1893  he  had  erected  the  Trenton 
Hotel,  which  is  supplied  with  thirty  sleeping-rooms  and  all  first-class  ac- 
commodations. He  does  not  conduct  the  hotel  himself,  but  is  again  working 
at  his  trade.  For  nineteen  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  I.abor 
and  was  very  active  in  that  organization.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  .Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 

On  the  9th  of  Jime,  1857,  Mr.  Simmerman  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Anna  Foster,  a  daughter  of  William  Foster,  and  to  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren. Horace  married  Rhoda  Bates,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  named  Effie. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  left  home  and  spent  six  years  in  the  silver 
mines  in  the  west,  and  subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  Ijusiness  in 
Woodbur)',  and  afterward  spent  one  year  in  the  Klondike.  George,  the 
second  child,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  months.  Qiarles,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  printing  business  in  New  York  city,  married  Ida  Kean,  and  has  one 
child,  Viola.  Emma  and  William  died  in  childhood.  Lizzie  married  Theo- 
dore Struble,  who  died.  She  then  married  Henry  Davis  and  has  one  child, 
Jennie.  After  his  death  she  married  Benjamin  Shuster.  She  is  now  the 
proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Trenton,  owned  by  her  father. 

It  is  a  well  attested  maxim  that  the  greatness  of  a  state  lies  not  in  its 
machinery  of  government,  nor  even  in  its  institutions,  but  in  the  sterUng 
qualities  of  its  individual  citizens,  in  their  capacity  for  high  and  unselfish 
effort  and  their  devotion  to  the  public  good.  Mr.  Simmerman  has  probably 
done  more  for  the  mass  of  the  people  of  New  Jersey  than  any  other  represen- 
tative of  labor  interests,  and  by  ameliorating  their  condition  by  obtaining 
them  just  recognition  of  their  worth  he  has  certainly  in  a  large  measure  con- 
tributed to  the  well  being  of  the  state. 


JOHN   D.   HAMILTON. 


Almost  every  city  of  any  size  has  at  least  one  manufactory  of  which  it  is 
proud,  and  Salem,  New  Jersey,  has  one  of  which  she  is  justly  proud.  This  is 
one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  carriage-manufacturing  plants  in  the 
state,  and  the  energy  and  perseverance  manifested  by  the  gentleman  who 
has  brought  it  to  its  present  state  of  perfection  is  worthy  the  commendation 


43(>  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

he  receives,  and  lias  been  the  means  of  placing  the  city  among  the  front 
ranks  of  manufacturing  towns.  Such  a  man  is  John  D.  Hamilton,  one  of 
Salem's  most  esteemed  and  reputable  citizens.  He  is  a  native  of  Medford, 
Vermont,  was  born  July  13,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Margaret 
(Rafter)  Hamilton.  The  grandfather.  Lewis  Hamilton,  was  a  farmer  of 
Vermont  and  was  of  English  parentage.  He  had  thirteen  children,  among 
whom  was  the  father  of  our  subject.  Josejih  was  a  mason  by  trade,  an  indus- 
trious, hard-working  man.  He  married  Margaret  Rafter,  who  bore  him 
five  children  and  whose  death  they  were  called  upon  to  mourn  in  July, 
1880.  She  had  reached  her  fifty-sixth  or  fifty-eighth  year  when  death  came 
to  her.  The  father  died  May  29,  1898,  in  Connecticut.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
but  took  little  part  in  politics.  His  children  were  John  D.,  our  subject; 
Joseph,  a  foreman  with  the  Goodyear  Rubber  Company  of  Connecticut; 
Helen;  Tliomas,  overseer  for  the  Goodyear  Rubber  Company;  and  Alvina. 

John  D.  Hamilton  was  a  student  in  the  Springfield  public  schools  when 
a  lad.  and  it  was  little  thought  that  he  would  make  the  Ijrilliant  record  in 
the  business  world  that  he  has.  When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered  a 
blacksmith  and  carriage-making  shop  to  learn  the  business  and  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  nine  years,  becoming  familiar  with  e\ery  detail  of  the  work. 
The  following  seven  years  were  spent  as  a  journeyman  in  the  coach  shop  at 
Bridgeton,  whence  he  went  to  Naugatuck  in  the  capacity  of  superintendent 
for  a  large  carriage  factory  at  that  place,  and  remained  five  years.  Fitz- 
Gibbon  &  Crisp  then  secured  his  services  as  foreman  of  their  blacksmith 
department  at  Trenton,  one  of  the  largest  shops  in  the  state. 

After  remaining  with  them  tw^o  years  he  came  to  Salem  and  was  in  the 
employ  of  James  H.  Greene  for  eighteen  months  previous  to  engaging  in 
business  for  himself.  Having  decided  to  open  a  shop  of  his  own  he  built  a 
two-story  building  twenty  by  fifty  feet  and  began  the  manufacture  of  car- 
riages, making  each  part  and  shipping  the  completed  vehicle  to  all  parts  of 
the  country,  largely  to  jobbers.  The  business  increased  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  former  building  was  no  longer  roomy  enough  to  carry  on  the  work, 
and  in  1898  he  was  obliged  to  enlarge  it,  which  he  did  by  adding  another 
story  and  increasing  the  area  to  thirty  by  sixty-two  feet.  In  order  to  still 
further  increase  the  facilities  of  the  work  he  put  in  a  twenty-horse  power 
boiler  and  engine,  and  added  a  wood-working  machine,  etc.,  until  he  now  has 
a  splendidly  equipped  shop  in  every  department  and  is  able  to  turn  out  work 
of  a  superior  order  in  the  shortest  possible  time.  He  has  now  in  course  of 
construction  fourteen  wagons,  besides  other  work,  and  the  shop  contains 
about  three  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  work  and  stock.  He  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  spring  wagons,  and  in  three  years  sold  forty-three  of  them.     He 


CO.XGRESSIO.X.IL    DISTRICT    OF    XEIV    JERSEY.  437 

does  all  his  own  drafting  and  keeps  five  men  constantly  employed.     His 
building  is  heated  throughout  by  steam  and  is  comfortable  in  every  part. 

Air.  Hamilton  was  married  May  29,  1880,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Susan  Good,  a  native  c;f  Greenwich,  Scotland.  Their  home  life  has 
been  brightened  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  namely:  John,  aged  eighteen; 
Mary,  sixteen;  Jane,  fourteen;  Ella,  thirteen;  Maggie,  twelve;  Gertrude, 
eight;  and  Alexander,  who  is  a  lad  of  six.  They  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  he  also  takes  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
being  a  leader  of  the  orchestra  and  lending  assistance  whenever  it  is  needed. 
He  is  a  member  of  both  the  Senior  and  Junior  Orders  of  United  American 
Mechanics. 


ALBERTUS  SOMERS  SIMAIERMAN. 

A  venerable  and  honored  citizen  of  W^oodbnry.  Gloucester  county.  New 
Jersey.  Albertus  Somers  Simmerman,  is  living  in  the  identical  house  in  which 
his  birth  occurred,  Alarch  24,  1821.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Keziah  Sim- 
merman,  both  of  whom  have  passed  to  their  reward.  The  father,  it  is  be- 
lieved, was  born  in  Germany,  and  settled  permanently  in  this  town  prior  to 
1812.  A  cabinet-maker  and  undertaker  by  vocation,  he  plied  these  callings 
successfully  for  a  numl^er  of  years.  He  was  the  first  undertaker  in  Wood- 
bury and  conducted  the  business,  which  he  established  in  1808.  without 
interruption  until  his  retirement  in  1847.  He  died  when  in  the  seventy-third 
year  of  his  age,  respected  by  every  one  who  knew  him. 

Alliertus  S.  Simmerman  is  one  of  four  children,  of  whom  the  two  elder 
ones.  Horace  and  Matilda,  are  deceased,  and  Keturah  is  yet  living.  He 
obtained  a  fair  education  in  his  youth,  and  by  subsequent  study,  reading  and 
obser\'ation  became  well  informed  upon  general  subjects.  Under  his  father's 
instruction  he  learned  the  senior  man's  business,  and  in  1847,  when  the  latter 
retired,  on  account  of  advancing  years,  the  young  man  assumed  his  duties. 
For  many  years  he  continued  actively  engaged  along  the  same  line  of  en- 
deavor, meeting  with  the  commendation  of  his  patrons,  and  fully  meriting 
the  high  regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  one  and  all.  In  i8go  he  retired,  and 
the  business  which  had  been  established  by  his  father  more  than  four-score 
years  before  and  had  never  left  the  family  passed  into  the  hands  of  others. 

For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  and  his  wife  have  given  much 
time  and  attention  to  the  collecting  of  shells,  fossils  and  various  antiquities  in 
this  state,  and  their  large  cabinets  are  filled  with  extremely  interesting  speci- 
mens. Mr.  Simmerman,  especially,  has  made  a  study  of  the  subject,  and  is 
considered  an  authority  in  this  locality.     He  is  an  entertaining  converser, 


438  BlOCKAI'inCAL  HISTORY  Of  Till:  TIKST 

and  his  loiiij'  residence  liere  and  keen  powers  of  observation  liave  rendered 
him  faniihar  witli  local  history.  For  eleven  years  he  served  as  the  overseer 
of  the  poor  and  in  him  the  suffering  and  needy  ever  find  a  sympathetic  friend. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  independent,  and  religiously  he  is  a  Presbyterian. 
His  marriage  to  Miss  Rhoda  Rambo,  a  native  of  Gloucester  county,  New 
Jersey,  was  solemnized  in  1850.  She  has  been  a  loyal,  noble  wife,  sharing 
his  sorrows  and  joys,  and  in  the  countless  ways  known  only  to  womankind 
has  smoothed  and  made  pleasant  the  rough  highway  of  life  over  which  he 
has  traveled.  They  are  quietly  passing  their  declining  days  in  the  old  home 
endeared  to  them  by  a  thousand  sacred  memories,  and  secure  in  the  friend- 
ship of  a  host  of  old  acquaintances  and  lifelong  neighljors. 


SAMUEL  G.  TWELLS. 


Samuel  G.  Twells.  a  retired  merchant  of  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  and 
the  o\\  ner  of  the  Briar  Hill  farm,  was  born  in  Peru,  Indiana,  September  5, 
1842.  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Fannie  (Grant)  Twells.  His  father,  who  was 
distinguished  both  as  a  citizen  and  a  philanthropist,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
July  25,  1818,  and  there  obtained  his  education.  After  leaving  school  he 
obtained  a  situation  as  a  salesman  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  Hardy  &  Tunis, 
on  Market  street,  near  Second  street,  in  Philadelphia.  In  1842  he  removed 
to  Peru.  Indiana,  and  for  two  years  carried  on  the  dry-goods  business  there, 
but  in  1844  disposed  of  his  stock  and  returned  to  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love, 
where  he  carried  on  a  shipping  and  commission  Inisiness  until  1868.  In 
1864,  meeting  with  an  accident  which  resulted  in  partial  jiaralysis,  he  was 
prevented  from  devoting  his  entire  attention  to  his  business.  In  1866  he 
purchased  the  beautifully  located  property  in  Woodbury  known  as  the 
Mickle  farm,  which  he  subsequently  named  Briar  Hill.  To  this  farm  he 
removed  with  his  family  in  1868  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
passing  away  on  the  i6th  of  February,  1890. 

He  had  three  children:  Samuel  G.  and  Joseiihine,  who  died  in  childhood, 
and  Standley.  Mr.  Twells  was  known  far  and  wide  for  his  many  benevolent 
deeds,  and  no  one  honestly  in  need  or  in  distress  was  c\cr  turned  empty- 
handed  from  his  door.  He  was  equally  marked  for  his  public  s])irit  and  the 
existence  of  many  of  the  improvements  on  the  west  side  of  Woodbury  is 
due  to  his  energy  and  contributions.  Fie  was  a  man  of  broad  humanitarian 
principles,  kind  and  benevolent,  and  all  recognized  in  him  a  genial  and 
courteous  gentleman,  of  true  character  and  worth. 

Samuel  Cirant  Twells  removed  with  his  parents  to  Philadelphia  in  1844, 


1^ 


'^^<^<2-^^t^iU-C    ^5^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  439 

when  but  two  years  of  age.  He  was  educated  there  at  the  Episcopal  Acad- 
emy, tlien  situated  at  the  corner  of  Juniper  and  Locust  streets.  In  early  life 
he  entered  his  father's  store  and  was  trained  to  the  commission  business. 
Rapidly  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  same  he  soon  became  a  partner  with 
his  father.  Since  1864  he  has  resided  at  Woodbury,  and  since  1866  has 
devoted  his  attention  to  the  interests  of  Briar  Hill  farm.  He  manied  Celeste 
Rodney,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Rodney  and  Susan  Maria,  nee  Fromburger, 
of  Damascus,  St.  George's  Hundred,  Delaware.  They  have  seven  children, — 
Bertha  R.,  Herbert,  Norris,  John  S.,  Ca-sar  Rodney,  Fannie  Grant  and 
Alfred  Lee.    The  family  are  devoted  members  of  Christ  Episcopal  church. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  interesting  to  note  something  of  the  history 
of  the  Rodney  family.     According  to  Vincent's  History  of  Delaware,  it  is  , 
probably  the  most  complete  in  this  country,  if  not  in  any  other  country,  as  it 
carries  this  historic  family  down  a  space  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty  years. 

The  first  Rodney  that  came  to  England  was  Sir  Walter  D.  Rodney,  a 
soldier  in  the  year  iioo  who  came  with  the  Empress  Maude,  the  daughter 
of  Henry  I,  king  of  England.  The  nineteenth  was  William  Rodney,  born 
in  1610,  an  ancestor  of  the  Delaware  Rodneys,  who  came  with  William  Penn 
ill  1682  and  was  his  legal  adviser.  He  had  a  son,  Cjesar,  who  had  three 
daughters  and  five  sons;  one  was  the  celebrated  Caesar,  who  was  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Delaware,  and  signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  was 
the  hero  of  "Rodney's  Ride"  and  a  bachelor.  The  other  son  was  Thomas, 
who  also  had  a  son,  Caesar  Augustus  Rodney,  who  was  the  attorney  general 
of  the  United  States  and  envoy  and  minister  plenipotentiary  to  Buenos  Ayres, 
where  he  died  in  1824.  His  eldest  son,  Thomas  Rodney,  with  his  mother's 
family,  moved  back  to  Delaware.  He  was  a  consul  to  Cuba  and  the  col- 
lector of  a  port.  He  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Celeste,  who  married 
Samuel  G.  Twells,  whose  family  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


GEORGE  W.  PAYNE. 


One  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Cumberland  county  is  George  W. 
Payne,  whose  prominence  in  business  and  public  affairs  well  entitles  him  to 
representation  in  this  volume.  He  was  born  in  Millville,  Cumberland  county, 
on  the  7th  of  September,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Thankful  (Van  Hook)  Payne. 
The  Payne  family  is  of  English  lineage,  but  on  the  maternal  side  our  subject 
is  of  Holland  Dutch  extraction.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Macey  Payne, 
resided  at  Millville  and  was  a  seafaring  man  who  sailed  on  coasting  vessels. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  at  Millville,  February  18,  1820,  was  left 
an  orphan  at  the  age  of  se\-en  }'ears  and  was  reared  by  his  brother,  Captain 


440  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Levi  Payne.  He,  too.  followed  ihe  sea  in  early  life,  making-  his  first  voyage 
as  a  seaman  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  learned  the  glass-blower's 
trade  and  followed  both  pursuits,  making  his  home  in  Millville  throughout 
his  entire  life.  He  held  membership  in  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  became  one  of  its  stalwart 
supporters.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  William  \'aii  Hook,  was  born 
at  what  was  then  known  as  Schooner  Landing,  a  point  four  miles  south  of 
the  business  center  of  Millville.  She  was  the  great-granddaughter  of  Dr. 
Van  Hook,  who  came  to  Millville  from  Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  settled 
permanently  here.  Two  of  his  sons,  Benjamin  and  Lawrence,  who  also  were 
physicians,  were  prominent  in  the  early  part  of  this  century  and  particularly 
active  during  the  war  of  1812.  Dr.  Lawrence  Van  Hook  was  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Payne.  \\'illiam  Van  Hook,  her  father,  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  many  years,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was  in  the  employ  of 
Whitehall,  Talem  &  Company  in  Millville.  Mrs.  Payne  died  in  April,  1893. 
She  was  for  over  fifty  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
to  which  her  huslmnd  also  belonged.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  G.  Payne  were 
the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living,  the  eldest  being 
George.  Kate  V.,  the  second,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Vogt,  a  shipping  clerk 
of  Philadelphia.  She  was  first  married,  however,  to  Thomas  Wells,  and  had 
three  children,- — Albert,  Lucius  and  Jesse.  Charles,  a  glass-blower  by  trade 
and  now  a  lawyer  of  Millville,  married  Maggie  Smith  and  has  two  daughters, 
— Eva  and  Ruby.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Corson,  the  superintendent 
of  the  grinding  department  in  the  extensive  glass-works  owned  by  W'hitali, 
Taylor  &  Company,  and  now  has  five  children, — Nellie,  Flora,  Charles, 
Hannah  and  Frederick.  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Boardman,  a  railroad 
engineer,  and  their  children  are  Lucinda  Mae  and  Cora.  Lenora  married 
Michael  Durkin,  a  cloth  dresser,  and  they  had  three  children:  Lizzie,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  George  and  James.  Jennie  is  the  wife 
of  Ralph  Kelvington,  a  wheelwright,  and  they  have  one  son,  Harvey.  Rena, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  the  wife  of  George  Dougherty,  a  lamp  worker, 
and  they  have  seven  children.  The  father  of  these  children  died  in  i8gi, 
at  the  age  of  seventy,  and  his  wife  passed  away  when  se\-enty-one  years  of 
acre 

George  Payne,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  pursued  his  educa- 
tion under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Parker  and  Rev.  Northrup,  and  after  putting 
aside  his  text-books,  at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  he  learned  the  glass-blower's 
trade,  entering  u]ion  an  apprenticeship  in  1856.  He  followed  that  business 
until  1895.  being  in  the  cnipldv  of  Whitall.  Taylor  &  Company,  of  Millville. 
He  mastered  the  business  in  its  \arious  denartnients  and  was  a  most  trusted 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  441 

employee  of  the  house,  a  fact  wliicli  is  well  indicated  by  his  long  service. 

Taking  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  I\lr.  Payne  has  long 
been  recognized  as  a  leader  of  public  thought  and  movement.  He  served 
for  three  terms  in  the  New  Jersey  legislature,  being  elected  to  the  office  in 
1875,  1876  and  1877,  and  during  his  second  term  was  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  corporations.  In  1877  he  was  active  in  pushing  a  bill  entitled 
"An  act  for  the  better  securing  of  wages  to  workmen  and  laborers  in  the 
state  of  New  Jersey," — a  bill  for  which  he  had  worked  hard  the  two  previous 
years,  but  which  he  did  not  succeed  in  carrying  until  1877.  It  was  a  law  to 
prevent  the  payment  of  employes  in  punch  orders,  due  bills,  etc..  which  were 
redeemable  only  at  the  company's  store;  and  the  introductory  clause  read 
as  follows:  "That  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  or  corporation  in 
this  state  to  issue  for  payment  any  order  or  other  paper  whatsoever  unless 
the  same  purport  to  be  redeemalile  for  its  face  value  in  lawful  money  of  the 
United  States  by  the  person  gi\ing  or  issuing  the  same."  This  was  the 
first  general  act  of  the  kind  passed  in  New  Jersey,  and  it  has  since  been 
amended  to  better  protect  the  workingmen.  Mr.  Payne  was  opposed  by 
many  strong  men,  including  the  Democratic  nominee  for  governor,  Mr. 
McGill.  and  was  loyally  supported  by  the  present  governor  of  the  state,  Mr. 
Griggs,  who  was  the  Republican  nominee.  The  law  was  an  especial  boon 
to  the  glass-blowers,  establishing  a  cash  basis  for  their  labqr;  and  Mr.  Payne 
incurred  the  enmity  of  manufacturers  throughout  the  state,  and  was  for  some 
time  proscribed  from  being  employed.  He  has  also  been  connected  with 
public  service  in  the  custom-house  at  Philadelphia.  During  Grant's  admin- 
istration he  served  as  inspector  of  customs,  and  at  all  times  has  been  most 
loyal  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties.  He  has  likewise  held 
a  number  of  local  ofifices.  When  his  term  as  representative  was  completed 
he  was  made  the  assessor  of  the  old  second  ward  of  Millville,  which  is  now 
the  second  and  fourth  wards,  and  held  the  position  for  eight  years.  In 
March,  1889,  he  was  elected  to  the  common  council,  and,  after  serving  a  few 
months,  resigned  in  order  tO'  accept  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the 
glass-works  of  Rankins  &  La  Mar  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Returning  to  Mill- 
ville in  189J.  he  was  again  elected  to  the  council  and  served  three  years,  tak- 
ing part  in  important  rulings  as  a  member  of  the  finance,  water  and  railroad 
committees.  In  March,  1895,  '^^  ^^'^s  elected  mayor  of  Millville  and  was 
re-elected  in  1898,  without  opposition;  and  it  is  needless  to  add  that  he  is 
one  of  the  Ijest  mayors  the  city  has  ever  had,  fearless  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty  and  aiming  always  to  foster  the  best  interests  of  all  classes. 

Mayor  Payne  was  the  first  national  secretary  of  the  National  Flint  Glass 
Workers'  Union,  which  embraces  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  he  held 


442  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

this  position  three  years,  virtually  rc(leemiii_2^  the  Union  from  chaos  and 
placing  it  on  a  firm  financial  basis.  He  was  for  twelve  years  representative 
to  the  national  body  through  successive  re-elections  and  sers'ed  on  the  most 
important  committees.  A  fine  watch,  properly  inscribed,  was  presented  to 
him  by  the  Union,  and  he  has  a  handsome  chain,  which  was  the  gift  of  the 
employes  at  Atlanta,  where  he  was  superintendent.  He  served  for  eight 
years  as  assessor  of  Millville,  was  two  terms  a  member  of  the  city  council  from 
the  fourth  ward,  and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  fourth  ward. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1865,  Mr.  Payne  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Stonehill,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Stonehill,  and  to  them  have  been  born  eight 
children:  John  C,  Reginald  \V.,  William  S.,  Georgianna,  Lavinia  N.,  Nellie, 
Harold  H.  and  Anna.  Reginald  married  Miss  Ella  Hartman.  William 
married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Champion.  Georgianna  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Reed, 
of  Cape  May  City;  and  Lavinia  N.  married  Samuel  Curlott,  formerly  of 
Maryland,  now  a  resident  of  Millville.  Mr.  Payne  is  a  prominent  and  valued 
member  of  various  fraternities.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge  and  also 
to  the  chapter,  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  the  Knights 
of  the  Mystic  Circle  and  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics.  He  is 
also  a  consistent  member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Mill- 
ville. The  cause  of  education  has  found  in  him  a  warm,  friend  and  he  has 
done  effective  work  for  the  schools  while  serving  on  the  school  board.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republican,  unswerving  in  his  support 
of  the  principles  of  the  party.  As  mayor  of  the  city  his  administration  has 
been  progressive,  business-like  and  beneficial,  and  his  public  career  and 
private  life  are  alike  above  reproach. 


ROBERT  S.  CLYMER. 


One  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  and  jurists  of  southern  New  Jersey 
is  Robert  S.  Clymer,  a  man  of  forceful  individuality  and  strong  mentality  who 
has  advanced  step  by  step  to  a  position  of  marked  prominence  in  the  ranks 
of  the  legal  fraternity.  W'hatever  else  may  be  said  of  the  legal  fraternity,  it 
cannot  be  denied  that  members  of  the  bar  have  been  more  prominent  actors 
in  public  affairs  than  any  other  class  of  the  community.  This  is  but  the 
natural  result  of  causes  which  are  manifest  and  require  no  explanation.  The 
ability  and  training  which  qualify  one  to  practice  law  also  quahfy  him  in 
many  respects  for  the  duties  which  lie  outside  the  strict  path  of  his  profession 
and  which  touch  the  general  interests  of  society.  Holding  a  marked  prece- 
dence among  the  members  of  the  bar  of  ^^'oo(llnu'v  is  Mr.  Clvmer.  whose 


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COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  443 

ability  has  gained  him  a  place  of  distinguished  preferment  among  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  legal  profession  in  Gloucester  county. 

A  native  of  Philadelphia,  he  was  born  on  the  23d  of  August.  1855.  a  son 
of  David  M.  and  Abigail  A.  Clymer.  His  ancestry  is  one  of  long  and  hon- 
orable connection  with  this  country,  for  in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century  the  family  was  founded  in  the  New  World.  Several  of  the  family 
Avere  numbered  among  the  adherents  of  the  American  cause  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution. 

After  acquiring  his  preliminar)-  training  in  the  public  schools,  Judge 
Clymer  entered  upon  his  business  career  in  connection  with  commercial  pur- 
suits, and  for  a  decade  was  thus  engaged.  It  was  his  desire,  however,  to 
prepare  for  the  legal  profession,  and  while  attending  to  his  duties  as  clerk  he 
began  reading  law.  eagerly  accepting  the  first  opportunity  that  presented 
Itself  to  register  as  a  law  student.  After  a  thorough  and  careful  preparation 
for  the  bar  he  was  admitted  in  1882.  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  No  dreary  novitiate  awaited  him.  for  he  soon  entered 
upon  a  successful  career  and  in  less  than  a  decade  his  marked  ability  secured 
his  elevation  to  the  bench.  He  soon  won  for  himself  very  favorable  criticism 
for  the  careful  and  systematic  methods  he  followed.  His  remarkable  power 
of  concentration  and  application  and  his  retenti\-e  mind  have  excited  the  sur- 
prise of  his  professional  colleagues. 

Political  questions  early  awakened  his  earnest  attention,  and  by  careful 
study  and  investigation  he  has  thoroughly  informed  himself  concerning  the 
issues  of  the  day.  He  early  became  a  recognized  leader  in  the  local  political 
circles  of  Gloucester  county,  and  his  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth 
and  ability,  called  him  to  public  office.  In  1877  he  was  elected  the  clerk  of 
the  city  of  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  and  filled  that  position  with  ability  and 
credit  for  four  years.  For  one  year  he  held  the  ofiice  of  chosen  freeholder, 
but  in  each  case  refused  to  become  a  candidate  for  re-election.  He  was  the 
city  solicitor  of  \\'oodbury  for  four  years,  and  while  discharging  his  duties 
won  a  most  enviable  reputation.  He  conducted  a  number  of  very  important 
cases  and  his  wonderful  oratory,  clothed  with  the  sound  logic  of  truth,  car- 
ried conviction  to  the  minds  of  judge  and  jury  and  enabled  him  to  mount 
the  ladder  of  fame.  His  private  practice  rapidly  increased,  both  in  the  courts 
of  Gloucester  count}-  and  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  also  has  an  ofiice  and 
has  risen  to  prominence  as  a  member  of  the  bar  of  that  city.  A  most  impor- 
tant case  in  Philadelphia  in  which  he  was  concerned  was  that  involving  the 
question  of  the  constitutionality  of  the  city  ordinance  imposing  a  tax  on  non- 
residents. This  was  the  case  of  the  Commonwealth  vs.  Simons,  reported  in 
the  Legal  Intelligencer,  volume  41.  jiage  448.    The  ordinance  was  declared 


444  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  lARST 

unconstitutional.  The  a1)ility  lie  had  (lisi)layc(l  in  the  ])ractice  of  liis  pro- 
fession and  his  recognized  knowledge  of  the  law  led,  in  1891,  to  his  aiijioint- 
ment  to  president  law  judge  of  Gloucester  county. 

For  almost  six  years  he  filled  the  position,  and  no  higher  testimonial  of 
his  capal)le  service  could  be  given  than  the  fact  that  no  case  decided  by  him 
was  ever  reversed  by  the  higher  courts.  His  decisions  were  models  of  judi- 
cious soundness  and  gained  for  him  a  very  desirable  reputation  as  a  jurist. 
He  is  still  a  close  student  of  his  profession,  and  at  the  same  time  is  a  scholarly 
gentleman,  familiar  with  the  classical  works  of  literature  and  of  art.  His 
law  practice  is  almost  exclusively  confined  to  the  civil  courts  and  he  has  a 
large  clientele  in  these,  both  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  as  well  as  in 
the  district  and  higher  courts  of  the  United  States.  He  has  enjoyed  triumphs 
in  his  professional  career,  and  iaoth  in  public  and  private  life  he  has  gained 
that  warm  personal  regard  which  arises  from  true  nobility  of  character,  kind- 
ness and  geniality  and  deference  to  the  opinions  of  others.  His  conversation 
is  enlivened  bv  a  wit  and  repartee  that  render  him  a  pleasant  companion 
and  make  him  popular  with  all  classes. 


GEORGE  S.  SHARP. 


The  Sharp  family  from  which  George  S.  traces  his  descent  is  of  English 
extraction.  His  grandfather  was  a  successful  landlord  in  Salem  county.  New 
Jersey.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  a  Miss  Christman  and  had  children, — 
Jacob,  James,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Sarah  and  ]\lary  Ann  flMrs.  James  Thomp- 
son). Jacob  was  born  in  Salem,  county  and  married  Ivosanna.  a  daughter 
of  George  Sheets,  of  Bridgeport,  Gloucester  county.  Their  children  were 
ten  in  number,  as  follows:  Amanda  (Mrs.  Joseph  Kidd),  John.  Eliza  (Mrs. 
Samuel  Stranger),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Charles  E.  Lodge),  Charles,  George  S.,  Hugh 
C,  Thompson.  Hannah  Frances  (Mrs.  Charles  Hendrickson),  and  Henry. 

"Nfr.  Sharp  during  his  active  life-time  was  a  carpenter  and  a  farmer,  but 
having  retired  from  these  vocations  now  resides  in  Bridgeport.  His  son 
George  S.  was  born  March  6,  1836,  in  West  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and 
when  two  years  of  age  removed  to  Loga  township.  Gloucester  county,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  early  engaged  in  active  labor,  meanwhile  improving 
such  opportunities  for  education  as  occurred  during  the  winter  months  until 
his  majoritv  was  attained,  when  he  emljarked  in  the  raising  of  produce  on 
shares,  and  continued  thus  emjiloyed  for  seven  years.  He  was  in  the  fall  of 
i860  married  to  Miss  Beulah  L.,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Pjcimett  and  Hannah 
Lippincott,  of  .\sbury.  New  Jersey.     Mr.  Bennett  had  been  previously  mar- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  445 

ried  to  Miss  IMay  Davis,  and  was  the  parent  of  fourteen  children,  three  of 
whom  were  by  the  first  marriage.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sharp  are 
Charles  Edward,  Ehen  B.  (who  has  been  since  her  eighteenth  year  engaged 
in  teaching).  Katie  H.,  Howard  R.,  and  Franklin  B.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

During  the  year  1867  Mr.  Sharp  purchased  his  present  home  in  Logan 
township,  and  has  since  been  actively  interested  in  the  raising  of  general 
produce  and  other  farm  labor.  By  discretion  and  close  application  to  busi- 
ness he  has  in  a  comparatively  few  years  acquired  a  competency  and  enjoys 
a  deservedly  high  reputation  as  a  successful  grower  of  sweet  potatoes,  which 
he  makes  a  specialty.  The  market  for  his  produce  is  principally  found  in 
Philadelphia.  In  local  politics  Mr.  Sharp  has  been  somewhat  active  as  a 
Republican,  but  has  invariably  refused  to  accept  ofifice.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  of  Bridgeport,  as  is  also  JNIrs.  Sharp. 


F.   B.   RIDGWAY. 


There  is  no  more  loyal  or  public-spirited  citizen  in  Gloucester  county 
than  this  gentleman,  who  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the  civil  war  and  who  in 
many  public  offices  has  discharged  his  duties  with  a  promptness  and  fidelity 
that  was  equal  to  his  patriotic  services  upon  the  battle-fields  of  the  south. 
He  is  now  filling  the  position  of  county  clerk,  and  his  official  course  has  won 
the  commendation  of  all  concerned.  No  trust  reposed  in  him  has  ever  been 
betrayed  and  he  therefore  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  public  in  an  unqualified 
degree. 

Mr.  Ridgway  was  born  in  the  township  of  Greenwich,  Gloucester  county, 
Februan,^  17,  1840.  His  grandfather  was  Jacob  Ridgway  and  his  father 
Benjamin  Ridgway.  The  latter  was  also  born  in  the  town  of  Greenwich 
and  engaged  in  farming  near  Mullica  Hill.  He  was  an  enterprising  agricul- 
turist whose  devotion  to  his  business  interests  and  his  capable  management 
brought  to  him  excellent  success.  He  held  membership  in  the  Baptist  church 
and  his  life  was  in  harmony  with  his  professions.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Batten,  a  daughter  of  Francis  Batten,  of  Gloucester  county,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  twelve  children  who  lived  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  while 
eight  of  the  number  still  survive,  namely:  Andrews,  a  resident  of  Camden; 
F.  B.;  Aaron  M.,  whose  home  is  near  Mullica  Hill;  Benjamin,  of  Atlantic 
City;  Myra  K.,  the  wife  of  Nathan  S.  Lloyd  and  living  in  Mullica  Hill; 
Sabra  E.,  the  wife  of  Elwood  Kier.  of  Mullica  Hill;  Charles  K.,  of  Baltimore; 
and  Moses  B.,  of  Camden.  The  father  of  these  children  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  1883,  but  the  mother  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 


446  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORV  OF  THE  flKST 

F.  B.  Ridgwav.  wlio  is  so  well  known  in  Gloucester  countv  tliat  lliis  sketch 
cannot  fail  to  he  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers,  was  educated  in  the 
Quaker  schools  and  left  home  in  the  spring  of  iSAi  to  enter  his  country's 
service.  The  echoes  from  Fort  Sumter's  g'uns  had  hardly  ceased  to  re- 
verberate when  he  joined  the  Union  army  in  Company  A.  Third  New  Jersey 
Infantry,  April  19,  1861.  Going  at  once  to  the  front  he  entered  into  active 
service,  but  for  some  time  before  being  mustered  out  he  was  ill,  the  rigors 
and  hardships  of  war  undermining  his  health.  At  length  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  and  returned  home.  He  then  engaged  in  raising  vege- 
tables for  the  city  markets  during  the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
season  he  was  employed  as  a  school  teacher. 

On  the'22d  of  February,  1865,  Mr.  Ridgway  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Julia  P.  Chattin.  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  prominent  residents  of  the  ' 
community.  He  then  began  cultivating  his  wife's  farm  comprising  forty- 
four  acres  and  successfully  conducted  his  agricultural  pursuits.  One  child, 
who  is  still  living,  came  to  bless  their  union,  Walter  C.,  who  is  now  serving 
as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  office  in  Woodbur\-. 

Mr.  Ridgway  has  been  a  very  active  factor  in  political  circles  and  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  Republican  party.  He  was  elected  a  freeholder  by 
his  township,  serving  for  five  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee of  the  board  of  freeholders  at  the  time  when  the  new  court-house  was 
erected.  In  1884  he  w^as  a  candidate  for  the  nomination  of  county  sherifT  against 
Senator  Packer.  In  1887,  however,  he  received  the  nomination  and  was 
elected  for  a  three-years  term.  In  1892  he  was  elected  the  county  clerk,  filling 
that  position  for  five  years,  and  so  capably  did  he  discharge  his  tluties  that 
in  1897  he  was  re-elected  and  is  now  serving  a  second  term.  He  has  been  a 
delegate  to  all  the  conventions  of  his  party  and  in  its  councils  his  influence 
has  been  very  marked.  He  keeps  well  infonned  on  the  issues  of  the  day 
and  is  therefore  able  to  give  an  intelligent  support  to  the  measures  which  he 
advocates.  Socially  he  is  a  prominent  Mason,  belongs  to  Swedesboro  Lodge, 
No.  157,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Siloam  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Camden;  Cyrene  Com- 
mandery,  K.  T. ;  and  Lu  Lu  Temple  of  the  ^Mystic  Shrine  in  Philadelphia. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  in  which  order  he 
has  filled  all  the  chairs,  and  for  five  years  has  been  a  representative  to  the 
great  council.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Junior  Order  of  American  Mechanics; 
to  Mullica  Hill  Grange  No.  51,  P.  of  H.,  and  James  S.  Stratton  Post,  G.  A. 
R.,  of  Mullica  Hill.  His  wife  holds  membership  in  the  Baptist  church  and 
they  are  both  highly  esteemed  by  the  people,  enjoying  the  marked  regard 
of  many  friends.  Mr.  Ridgway  is  a  most  competent  official  and  his  public 
record  is  one  over  which  there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  447 

JA:\IES   H.    NIXON. 

Judge  James  H.  Nixon,  who  is  now  occupying  the  bench  of  the  circuit 
court  of  New  Jersey,  is  one  of  the  distinguished  citizens  of  the  state.  His 
name  figures  conspicuously  in  connection  with  the  poHtical.  legal  and  judicial 
annals  of  New  Jersey. 

A  native  of  Cumberland  county.  Judge  Nixon  was  born  in  1838,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years  was  graduated  in  Princeton  University  with  the 
class  of  1858.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  three  years 
in  the  Lawrenceville  Academy  near  Princeton,  and  afterward  prepared  for 
the  legal  profession  as  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  Hon.  John  T.  Nixon, 
of  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey.  In  1863,  at  the  November  term  of  the  supreme 
court,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  practice  at  Millville.  For 
twenty-one  years  he  was  the  solicitor  of  that  city  and  was  connected  with 
much  of  the  important  litigation  tried  in  the  courts  of  his  district.  His 
preparation  was  thorough  and  exact,  his  mind  is  keenly  analytical,  his  reason- 
ing profound  and  his  application  of  legal  principles  to  the  points  at  issue 
accurate  and  exact.  Well  fitted  for  leadership,  he  has  long  figured  promi- 
nently in  connection  with  public  affairs  in  the  state.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
New  Jersey  house  of  the  assembly  for  four  years,  from  1865  until  1869,  and 
of  the  senate  three  years,  from  1869  to  1872,  and  acted  as  the  chairman  of 
the  judiciary  committee  in  both  bodies.  In  1876  his  name  was  placed  on  the 
Republican  electoral  ticket  of  the  state.  He  filled  the  important  office  of 
assistant  attorney  general  during  the  administration  of  President  Harrison 
and  for  more  than  a  year  and  a  half  under  the  second  administration  of 
President  Cleveland.  He  was  appointed  the  judge  of  the  court  of  errors  and 
appeals  by  Governor  Greggs  on  the  2d  of  March,  1896,  for  a  term  of  six 
years,  but  resigned  the  oihce  to  accept  the  appointment  to  the  circuit  bench 
of  New  Jersey  made  by  Governor  Voorhees  on  the  19th  of  February,  1900. 
He  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the 
leaders  of  his  party  in  the  state.  Mr.  Nixon  enjoys  a  state  reputation,  for 
the  importance  and  prominence  of  the  legal  interests  w-ith  which  his  name 
is  associated  have  been  such  as  to  require  the  careful  handling  of  men  of 
superior  ability  whose  talents  are  such  as  to  draw  to  them  not  only  the  atten- 
tion of  their  professional  brethren  but  of  the  public  as  well.  Yet  Mr.  Nixon 
is  a  man  of  great  modesty  and  unobtrusive  manner,  who  seeks  not  laudation 
of  self.  His  reputation  is  the  deserved  tribute  of  high  merit.  It  comes  as 
the  natural  sequence  of  talents  that  place  him  upon  an  exalted  plane  above 
the  majority  of  mankind,  owing  to  the  development  of  abilitv  through  study, 
earnest  purpose  and  untiring  effort. 


448  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

GEORGE  S.  WEST. 

George  S.  West,  tlie  surrogate  of  Camden  county  and  a  resident  of  the 
city  of  Camden,  was  born  September  12,  1851,  in  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Weldon)  West.  Samuel  West,  who  also  was 
a  native  of  Boston,  settled  in  Camden  in  1852.  A  soldier  in  the  regular  army, 
served  in  the  Mexican  war,  fighting  on  the  Rio  Grande  under  General  Zach- 
ary  Taylor  and  distinguishing  himself  for  ])ra\ery.  Though  troulded  by  a 
wound  received  in  Mexico,  he  was  eager  to  participate  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  in  Ohio.  After  receiving  the 
command  of  the  company  he  never  reached  the  battle-field,  as  his  old  wound 
caused  his  death  in  1861,  when  he  was  forty-four  years  old. 

George  S.  West  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Camden.  He  sub- 
sequently learned  the  machinist's  trade;  but,  having  no  taste  for  labor  of 
that  kind,  he  sought  and  obtained  the  position  of  salesman  in  a  wholesale 
clothing  and  notion  house  of  Philadelphia.  Afterward  he  opened  a  large 
auction  house  in  Camden,  which  he  successfully  conducted  until  1887.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  taken  an  active  part  in  politics  as  a  Republican,  and 
his  character  and  energ)-  had  made  him  popular  with  both  parties.  Begin- 
ning in  1885,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  three  successive 
years,  representing  Ward  4.  In  1887  he  was  elected  county  surrogate  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  receiving,  it  is  stated,  the  largest  majority  ever  given 
a  candidate  for  that  office  in  this  section.  On  that  occasion  he  gave  up  his 
auction  business,  and  thereafter  devoted  his  whole  attention  to  the  duties 
of  his  office.  Having  completed  his  term  of  five  years  with  credit,  he  was 
re-elected  for  another  term  in  1892,  and  also  in  1897. 

In  1876  Mr.  West  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Charles,  of  Camden,  and 
now  has  one  son,  Hayden  A.,  who  graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  also  at  the  University  of  Tennessee.  He  is  a  practicing  physician 
in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  a  professor  in  the  University  of  Tennessee  and  the 
University  of  the  South.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Camden  Republican  Club. 
Taking  much  interest  in  military  affairs,  he  was  the  commander  of  Company 
D,  Sixth  Regiment  of  the  National  Guards,  and  now  the  regimental  adjutant 
of  the  Third  Regiment  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  new  armory. 
It  was  largely  through  his  instrumentality  that  the  state  was  induced  to 
appropriate  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection 
of  that  handsome  structure.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  i\Iason,  has  taken 
the  thirty-second  degree,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lulu  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Philadelphia.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Brotherhood    of    United 


'^^^^^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  449 

American  Mechanics,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  the  Ancient  Order 
of  United  A\'orkmen  and  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is 
popular  with  all  classes  of  men  and  a  leading  spirit  in  social  events.  Mrs. 
West  is  a  deaconess  of  the  Linden  Baptist  church,  but  ]\Ir.  ^^'est  is  not  a 
church  member. 


W.   J.    BROWNING. 


The  business  capacity  of  Air.  Browning  is  of  high  order  and  through 
many  years  the  history  of  his  career  has  formed  an  important  chapter  in  the 
annals  of  the  commercial  interests  of  Camden.  He  was  born  in  this  city, 
April  II,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  William  H.  Browning,  who  was  born  in  Mer- 
chantville,  this  county,  his  father  being  John  Browning.  William  H.  Brown- 
ing was  a  carriage  trimmer  and  died  on  the  i8th  of  February.  1861.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  188 1,  and  like  her  husband  was  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  children:  William 
J.,  of  this  review;  B.  F.,  a  resident  of  Camden:  and  ]\Iary  A.,  widow  of  Ed  A. 
Henry. 

W.  J.  Browning  pursued  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city  and  later  attended  the  Friends'  Central  High  School,  of  Philadelphia. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  upon  his  business  career,  becoming  connected 
with  a  wholesale  dry-goods  house  of  that  city.  There  he  remained  for  thirty 
years,  connected  with  the  same  line  of  business.  In  1881  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  W.  B.  Kempton  &  Company.  In  1883  he  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Crap,  Vandevere  &  Company.  In  1887  that  firm  retired  from 
business  and  ]\Ir.  Browning  became  the  controller  of  the  New  Jersey  trade 
for  Howett,  '\\'amer  &  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  five  years. 
While  with  the  latter  firm  he  was  made  the  postmaster  of  Camden,  in  1889, 
occupying  that  position  for  five  years.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  adjuster  of 
the  Camden  Suburban  Railroad  Company,  and  is  a  director  and  the  secretary 
of  the  West  Jersey  Traction  Company,  a  director  of  the  Camden  Building  & 
Loan  Company  and  the  Homestead  Building  &  Loan  Association.  He  is  a 
man  of  marked  capacity  in  business  affairs,  capable  of  controlling  extensive 
and  varied  interests. 

Official  positions  have  also  been  accorded  Islr.  Browning,  and  aside  from 
■his  service  as  postmaster  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education 
and  of  the  city  council.  He  was  made  the  chief  clerk  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives in  the  fifty-fourth  congress  and  still  holds  that  position.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  ^nd  measures  of  the 
Republican  party  and  is  well  informed  on  all  the  issues  and  questions  of  the 
ii-cc 


450 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  PIRST 


day.     He  discharges  his  duties  with  InisinessHke  dispatch  and  his  fidelity  has 
won  him  high  commendation. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1873,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Brown- 
ing and  Miss  Lillie  A.  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  R.  Taylor,  of 
Camden.  Their  union  has  been  blest  with  a  son,  W.  K.,  who  is  now  a  practic- 
ing physician  of  Plainfield,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Browning  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  the  American  Order  of  United  Workmen.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  First  Baptist  church.  Close  application  to  his  business  inter- 
ests, combined  with  keen  discernment  and  a  judgment  that  is  rarely  at  fault, 
has  enabled  him  to  win  and  maintain  a  foremost  position  in  commercial 
circles,  while  his  social  qualities  have  gained  him  the  warm  regard  of  many 
friends. 


BENJAMIN    L.    DENSTEN. 

Benjamin  L.  Densten  has  passed  his  entire  life  in  Gloucester  county, 
identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  no 
one  in  his  community  is  more  highly  respected.  His  father,  Leven  Densten, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  spent  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  that  state, 
subsequently  removing  to  a  farm  in  West  Deptford  township,  Gloucester 
county.  His  later  years  were  passed  here  and  at  his  death  he  had  reached 
the  extreme  age  of  one  hundred  years.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Stetcher,  was  summoned  to  the  better  land  about  1873. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  this  town- 
ship, January  21,  1847.  His  elementary  education  was  acquired  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  in  those  of  Thorofare  and  Red  Bank. 
From  his  early  years  he  has  been  familiar  with  agriculture  in  its  various 
branches,  and  by  the  time  that  he  had  arrived  at  his  majority  he  was  fully 
competent  to  manage  a  farm  on  his  own  account.  He  is  now  considered 
one  of  the  most  progressive,  practical  farmers  of  his  home  neighborhood, 
and  merits  the  high  respect  in  which  he  is  held  Ity  all.  In  political  affairs 
he  takes  a  patriotic  interest,  his  ballot  and  influence  being  given  to  the  Re- 
pubhcan  party. 

At  Woodbury,  on  the  ist  of  July,  1878,  Mr.  Densten  married  Miss  Anna 
M.  Bendler,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Bendler.  Three  children  bless 
their  union,  namely:  Mary  E.,  Samuel  E.  and  Everett  Glenwood.  The 
family  attend  the  Baptist  church  and  take  an  active  part  in  furthering  all 
worthy  enterprises.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  and  enjoy  the  respect  and 
well  earned  regard  of  all  with  whom  they  have  been  associated,  whether  in 
business  or  social  circles. 


/  CONGRESS fOX.4L    DISTRICT    OF    XEJr    JERSEY.  451 

J.   FRANK   SHULL. 

It  is  ahvavs  a  pleasure  to  the  biographer  to  trace  the  history  of  a  man 
whose  career  has  been  strictly  honorable  and  above  reproach,  as  is  the  case 
with  J.  Frank  Shull,  of  Wenonah.  Since  1875  he  has  resided  here  with  his 
family  in  a  beautiful  modern  house  which  he  built  that  year,  and  no  one  in 
this  locahty  is  more  highly  esteemed,  or  more  worthy  of  representation  in 
the  annals  of  the  county. 

The  Shulls  are  of  English  origin,  and  both  the  father  and  grandfather  of 
our  subject  were  natives  of  this  state.  Abijah  Shull,  the  last  mentioned, 
was  born  at  Franklinville,  and,  like  his  father,  he  followed  agriculture.  For 
a  period,  however,  he  drove  the  old  stage  from  Philadelphia  to  Port  Eliza- 
beth, and  thus  became  well  known,  far  and  wide.  He  married  Margaret 
Cake,  of  his  native  place,  the  daughter  in  a  family  of  pioneer  hotel-keepers. 
He  continued  exceptionally  strong  and  active,  mentally  and  physically,  until 
his  death  in  1866.  His  widow  lived  for  a  number  of  years  afterward,  her 
death  occurring  in  November,  1891.  She  was  a  woman  of  beautiful  Chris- 
tian character,  and  to  her  gentle,  loving  influence:  her  children  might  safely 
attribute  much  of  the  noble  element  in  their  natures.  She  was  a  devoted 
wife  and  mother,  faithful  and  true  in  all  her  relations  with  her  fellow  men 
and  actively  interested  in  church  work.  She  was  in  her  eighty-eighth  year 
when  the  summons  came  to  her  to  lay  aside  her  earthly  cares  and  to  "enter 
into  the  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God."  She  was  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  Joseph  is  a  resident  of  Deer- 
field.  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey;  Caroline  W.  is  the  wife  of  Preston 
Lippincott  and  resides  near  Deerfield;  and  Robert  T.  lives  at  Woodbury. 

J.  Frank  Shull  was  born  in  Deerfield,  Cumberland  county,  in  1843,  and 
in  his  boyhood  acquired  an  elementary  education  in  the  district  schools. 
Later  he  was  a  student  at  Eastman's  Business  College  in  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York,  thus  laying  the  foundations  of  his  subsequent  successful  commer- 
cial career.  In  1862  he  became  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  tobacco  firm  of 
Philadelphia  and  for  ten  years  he  continued  to  be  employed  along  this  line. 
Then  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  selling  of  groceries  for  the  wholesale 
firm  of  Jacoby,  Wireback  &  Company,  of  Delaware  avenue,  Philadelphia, 
and  traveled  for  twelve  years  more  in  this  enterprise,  finally  being  admitted 
to  the  firm.  In  1873  Mr.  Jacoby  died  and  soon  afterward  the  new  firm  of 
Shull,  Wireback  &  Company  was  organized.  This  connection  remained 
in  existence  until  1892,  when  Mr.  Shull  purchased  the  entire  business,  which 
he  is  conducting  on  a  broader  plan  than  ever  before.  The  store  is  situated 
at  No.   14  Front  Street,  Philadelphia,  and  six  traveling  salesmen  are  em- 


452  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ployed,  tlie  tcrritorx'  wliicli  thev  co\er  inclndinf;'  jiortions  of  the  souIIt, 
besides  Pennsylvania  and  Xew  Jersey.  .Mr.  ShulJ  is  a  man  of  tine  business 
sagacity  and  enterprise,  and  by  well  directed  etTorts  he  has  amassed  a  com- 
fortable fortune. 

Ever  since  the  First  National  Bank  of  Glassboro  was  organized  Mr.  Shull 
has  been  the  vice  president  of  the  now  flourishing  financial  concern.  He  has 
been  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  South  Jersey  Institute,  of  Bridgeton,  Xew 
Jersey, — a  Baptist  institution.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  Ionic  Lodge, 
Siloam  Chapter,  and  Cyrene  Commandery,  all  of  Camden,  New  Jersey. 
When  a  young  man  he  identified  himself  with  the  Baptist  church,  and  for 
some  years  he  has  been  an  influential  deacon  in  the  W'oodlnn-y  congrega- 
tion. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1867,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Slmll  and  Miss 
Amelia  Burdsall,  a  daughter  of  Ira  Burdsall,  was  solemnized.  She  is  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  two  children:  Laura 
B.,  the  wife  of  H.  G.  Peddle,  of  Woodbury;  and  Rena  C.  the  wife  of  \\'.  J. 
McCahann,  Jr.,  the  secretary  of  the  McCahann  Sugar  Refining  Company  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 


AARON    SCHELLINGER. 

One  of  the  venerable  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Cape  Ma\-.  New 
Jersey,  is  he  of  whom  the  following  lines  are  penned.  He  is  a  descendant  of 
Cornelius  Schellinger,  and  his  paternal  grandfather  was  ^^'illiam  Schellinger, 
who  was  a  pilot  and  farmer.  He  owned  large  tracts  of  land  on  Cape  May 
Point  and  resided  near  the  steamboat  landing  in  Lower  township.  Both 
he  and  his  wife,  Sophia  (Stevens)  Schellinger,  lived  to  attain  the  advanced 
age  of  four-score  years,  and  were  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 
Their  son  William  became  one  of  the  millionaire  merchants  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  their  other  children  were  John,  Aaron  and  Sarah.  The  daughter 
became  the  wife  of  Joshua  Townsend,  who  was  an  influential  citizen  of  Sea- 
ville,  New  Jersey,  and  at  one  time  was  a  member  of  the  legislature. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Aaron  Schellinger,  was  born  in  Lower  town- 
ship. He  learned  the  trade  of  ship  carpenter  in  Philadelphia,  and  later  con- 
structed a  great  many  sloops  and  pilot  boats  at  what  is  now  known  as 
Schellinger's  Landing.  For  years  he  dwelt  in  a  small,  old-fashioned  house, 
with  a  great  fireplace  extending  across  one  end  of  the  building.  For  a  period 
he  and  his  thrifty  wife  kept  a  boarding-house  and  in  tiine  they  became  well-to- 
do,  owning  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  on  which  he  erected  a  substan- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  453 

tial  residence.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  was  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  officiated  as  tax  collector  of  his  district,  and  for  a  period 
was  the  wreck-master  at  Cape  May.  Of  the  Presbyterian  church  he  was  an 
earnest  and  active  member,  leading  the  singing  and  giving  liberally  of  his 
means  toward  the  spread  of  the  gospel.  To  himself  and  wife,  Sophia  (Ben- 
nett) Schellinger,  the  following  children  were  bom:  Elizabeth,  who  is  the 
widow  of  \\'illiam  Smith,  a  plasterer,  and  is  the  mother  of  Napoleon,  Lorinda, 
Captain  William  (a  seafaring  man  who  lives  at  Cape  May),  and  Mary,  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Dickinson,  a  carpenter  of  Cape  May;  William,  a  carpenter  and 
builder  at  Cape  May,  who  wedded  Mary  J.  McCray  and  had  a  son.  Clarence; 
George,  a  farmer  of  this  county,  living  at  Cape  May,  who  married  Anna  Maria 
Hand  and  has  two  sons, — .Vlexander  and  William;  Jeremiah,  a  plasterer  by 
trade,  who  married  Louise  Merritt  and  whose  sons  Merritt  and  Joseph  are 
wealthy  manufacturers  of  glass  at  Royersford,  Pennsylvania;  Joseph,  de- 
ceased, who  was  a  machinist  and  coal  dealer,  and  married  Augusta  Styles, 
by  \\hom  he  had  a  son;  and  Aaron,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  father 
departed  this  life  when  he  was  eighty-eight  years  of  age,  and  the  mother  when 
she  was  in  her  eighty-seventh  year. 

The  birth  of  Aaron  Schellinger  took  place  March  6,  1816,  at  his  parents' 
home  on  Lafayette  street.  Cape  May,  New  Jersey.  He  attended  school  in 
this  town  in  his  \outh,  and  here  mastered  the  plasterer's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed successfully  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  then  embarked  in  the  coal 
business  and  owns  the  schooner  which  conveys  his  coal.  At  an  early  age  he 
became  interested  financially  in  the  shipping  business,  and  at  various  times 
has  been  the  proprietor  of  boats,  schooners,  yachts  and  small  vessels  engaged 
in  the  coast  trade.  At  this  writing  he  owns  a  number  of  boats  and  boat- 
houses.  He  owns  a  fine  little  farm  of  four  acres  here,  and  one  of  one  hundred 
acres  at  Cold  Spring.  Diligence,  economy  and  enterprise  marked  all  if  his 
business  transactions,  and  integrity  and  justice  characterized  his  entire  com- 
mercial career. 

Since  beconn'ng  a  voter  i\Ir.  Schellinger  has  been  a  stanch  Democrat,  and 
from  time  to  time  he  has  occupied  local  offices,  such  as  that  of  road  over- 
seer, member  of  the  town  council  and  wreck-master.  The  Baptist  church 
has  received  his  earnest  support  since  be  was  a  young  man,  and  no  sacrifice 
was  too  great  for  him  when  its  interests  demanded  his  aid.  Besides  con- 
tributing liberallv  to  the  regular  maintenance  of  the  church  and  its  work, 
he  gave  three  thousand  dollars  to  it  at  one  time.  For  two-score  years  he 
has  officiated  as  a  deacon  in  the  congregation,  for  fourteen  years  served  in  an- 
other official  capacity,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  centur)-  was  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school  and  leader  of  the  choir. 


454  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

The  'first  wife  of  Mr.  Sclielliiii^er  was  Miss  Mary  M.  .  prior 

to  their  marriage  in  1842.  and  tlieir  children  were  named  Rebecca  and  Alexis. 
The  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Willis  Stiles,  who  is  engaged  in  the  oyster 
business  at  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children: 
the  Hon.  Herbert  Stiles,  Alexis,  Helen  and  Sophia.  Alexis  Schellinger 
married  Maggie  Ehvell,  and  their  only  child  is  the  Hon.  William  Schel- 
linger. Alexis  Schellinger  is  a  plasterer  by  trade,  and  is  a  yachtsman  and 
financially  interested  in  the  fisheries.  The  second  wife  of  our  su1)ject  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Ann  Merritt,  and  his  third  wife  was  formerly  Elizabeth 
(Brooks)  Merritt.  In  1876  he  was  united  in  wedlock  with  Deborah  Price, 
a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Price,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church  at 
Cold  Spring. 


BENJAMIN  HERITAGE. 

When  settlements  were  first  being  made  in  New  Jersey  and  the  land  was 
being  reclaimed  from  the  red  men  for  purposes  of  civilization,  there  came 
to  the  New  World  emigrants  who  bore  the  name  of  Heritage,  and  in  Bur- 
lington county,  this  state,  in  16S4,  planted  the  family  on  American  soil. 
Since  that  time  their  descendants  have  been  identified  with  the  honorable 
business  and  professional  pursuits  which  conduce  to  a  state's  prosperity  and 
progress. 

Benjamin  Heritage,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  is  of  the  sixth  gener- 
ation of  Heritages  in  America,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  account: 
Richard  Heritage,  from  whom  those  now  bearing  the  name  of  Heritage  in 
south  New  Jersev  and  many  other  localities  ha\e  descended,  came  from 
Brazlies,  Warwickshire,  England,  in  1684.  He  had  purchased  rights  of 
Edward  Byllings,  and  upon  his  arrival  here  made  a  location  of  land  on  the 
north  side  of  the  south  branch  of  Pensauken  creek  in  Burlington  county. 
New  Jersey,  calling  his  new  home  Hatten  New  Garden.  He  died  6th  mo., 
i6th,  1702.  His  children  were  John,  Joseph,  Sarah  and  Mary.  Joseph  mar- 
ried Hannah  Allen  nth  mo.,  26th,  1697,  and  died  iitli  mo..  13th,  1756. 
His  children  were  Richard,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  John,  Mary  and  Hannah. 
Joseph,  of  the  latter  family',  married  Sarah  \\niitall  in  1730  and  had  several 
children,  one  being  a  son  named  Benjamin,  who  was  born  in  1735  and  died 

in  1810.     He  married  Priscilla and  had  the  following  children: 

Josiah.  who  became  a  Methodist  minister;  Benjamin,  Iiorn  in  Gloucester 
county,  who  became  a  minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends;  b^phraim,  who 
loyally  served  in  the  colonial  army  in  the  Revolutionar}-  war;  and  Priscilla. 
Benjamin,  last  mentioned,  was  born  12th  mo.,  23rd.  1766.  married  Hannah 


%^yyu/^^AJJ^^XA4^ 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  455 

White  3rd  mo.,  15th,  1792.  and  died  9th  mo.,  6th,  1831.  His  children  were 
Jonathan,  Wilham,  Sarah,  Hannah,  Esther,  Elizabeth,  Benjamin  W.,  Ann 
M.,  Emma,  Priscilla  and  Joseph  O.  Jonathan,  born  3rd  mo.,  21st,  1793. 
married  Esther  Atkinson,  a  daughter  of  John  Atkinson,  2nd  mo.,  3rd,  1830, 
and  died  nth  mo.,  20th,  1869.  He  devoted  his  Hfe  to  farming,  and  his 
capable  management  of  afifairs  brought  him  a  desirable  success.  He  was  of 
a  retiring  disposition,  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends.  His  children  are  Charles;  Benjamin,  the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  8th  mo..  i8th.  1833:  John,  George,  and 
Elizabeth  A.,  all  of  whom  are  living  at  or  near  ]\Iickleton.  The  mother  of 
these  children  passed  away  in  1871. 

Benjamin  Heritage  spent  his  boyhood  days  at  his  parental  home  and 
acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  Through  the  periods  of 
vacation  he  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  thus  his  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  well  fitted  him  for  his  business  career  when  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  accounted  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
progressive  agriculturists  of  the  community  and  successfully  managed  his 
farm  until  1881,  when,  having  acquired  a  comfortable  competence,  he  retired 
to  private  life.     He  owns  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres,  which  he  rents. 

Mr.  Heritage  has  held  a  number  of  township  offices.  He  was  a  freeholder 
for  five  years,  commissioner  for  a  similar  period,  chairman  of  the  Township 
Committee  six  years,  surveyor  for  three  years,  and  has  been  president  of 
the  township  board  of  education  ever  since  the  old  school  districts  of  the 
township  have  been  consolidated, — six  years.  He  never  asked  for  an  ofifice. 
nor  for  a  vote,  and  has  ever  discharged  his  duties  in  a  prompt  and  faithful 
manner,  never  betraying  even  in  the  slightest  degree  the  trust  reposed  in 
him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  a  progressive,  public- 
spirited  citizen  who  gives  an  earnest  support  to  all  measures  which  he  be- 
Heves  will  prove  of  public  benefit. 


ISAAC  C.  STEVENSON. 

Isaac  C.  Stevenson  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Gloucester  county,  having  for 
many  years  been  identified  with  agricultural  interests,  but  now  living  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  He  was  born  near  Blackwood, 
New  Jersey,  January  26,  1822.  His  father  was  Isaac  Stevenson,  a  native 
of  Burlington  county,  and  the  grandfather  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America,  having  emigrated  from  Great  Britain  and  settled  in  Kensington, 


456  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  J-IRST 

Philadelphia.  Isaac  Stevenson  was  a  farmer  by  occu])ation  and  followed 
that  pursuit  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1827.  He  held 
membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  was  a  man  of  the  highest  re- 
spectability and  worth.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah 
Collins,  was  a  daughter  of  Amos  Collins,  of  Cross  Keys,  New  Jersey,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  1847.  By  the  marriage  of  this  worthy  couple  eight 
children  were  born,  but  only  two  are  now  living:  Richard,  of  Blackwood; 
and  Isaac  C. 

In  the  country  sclu)ols  Isaac  Stevenson  acijuiretl  his  education,  and  u]K)n 
the  home  farm  he  was  trained  to  the  labor  of  the  fields.  He  early  began 
farming  on  his  own  account,  and  in  1837  located  upon  what  is  known  as  the 
Stevenson  homestead,  about  a  mile  from  the  town  of  W'cnonah.  lie  owned 
the  land  upon  which  the  town  is  now  built,  and  in  1871  sold  the  property  to 
the  Mancha  Land  &  Improvement  Company,  composed  of  the  following 
named  gentlemen:  William  F.  Allen,  Horatio  J.  Mulford,  Samuel  A.  Whit- 
ney, George  Wood,  John  M.  Moor,  William  J.  Sewell,  B.  F.  Lee  and  Samuel 
Hopkins.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  considerable  property,  however,  his 
landed  possessions  aggregating  four  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres,  all  of 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  yielding  to  the  owner  a  good  in- 
come. While  actively  identified  with  the  farming  interests  of  the  community, 
he  followed  very  practical  and  progressive  methods,  and  neatness  character- 
izes everything  upon  the  old  homestead.  Its  buildings  are  commodious  and 
substantial,  its  fields  w^ell  tilled,  and  its  excellent  condition  is  an  indication  of 
the  enterprise  and  diligence  of  the  owner.  Mr.  Stevenson  has  also  Ijeen  a 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Glassboro.  is  the  agent  of  the  Mancha 
Land  &  Improvement  Company,  and  superintendent  of  the  Wenonah  water 
works.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a  member  of  the  Deptford 
township  committee  and  its  treasurer,  and  during  his  service  in  that  capacity 
he  paid  for  volunteers  from  his  township  over  a  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

In  June,  1847,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Coles,  a  daughter  of  William  Coles,  of  Salem  county.  For  many  years  they 
traveled  life's  journey  together,  but  in  1890  were  separated  by  death,  Mrs. 
Stevenson  being  called  to  her  final  rest  on  the  5th  of  May  of  that  year. 
They  had  two  children:  Sarah,  the  wife  of  George  L.  Dilks,  of  \\'cnonah, 
and  Charles  C,  of  Blackwood.  For  fifty  years  Mr.  Stevenson  has  been  a 
consistent  member  of  the  l*i-esbyterian  church,  and  his  life  has  been  in  har- 
mony with  his  religious  belief  and  confessions.  He  is  a  man  of  marked 
business  and  executive  aljility,  and  has  ever  borne  an  unassailable  reputation 
in  all  trade  transactions.  Honesty  is  synonymous  with  his  name,  and  this, 
combined  with  his  unfiagging  energy  and  perseverance,  has  brought  to  him 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JliRSEV.  457 

a  handsome  success  tliat  nunil;ers  him  among  the  suljstantial   citizens  of 
Gloucester  countv. 


EDWARD  LAWRENCE. 

Edward  Lawrence,  an  enterprising  farmer  of  Salem  and  one  of  the  largest 
land-owners  of  the  county,  may  well  be  classed  among  its  representative  men. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Seagraves)  Lawrence,  and  was  born 
December  9,  1839,  in  Mannington  township,  where  he  became  noted  as  a 
representative  and  enterprising  agriculturist.  His  grandfather,  George  Law- 
rence, married  Susannah  Browning,  a  sister  of  Abraham  Browning  and  an 
aunt  of  the  prominent  lawyer  of  that  name  in  Camden,  this  state.  Their 
children  were  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Maria,  George,  Isaac,  Thomas,  and 
Mary  Ann,  William.  He  fought  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was  a  soldier  of 
valor.  A  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  he  was  an  earnest  Christian  and 
lived  an  honorable  and  upright  life. 

William  Lawrence  was  a  farmer  of  Mannington  township  during  his 
active  life,  but  moved  to  Salem  some  eight  years  before  his  death  and  there 
enjoyed  a  well  earned  rest.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  a  freeholder  and  took 
an  active  interest  in  local  politics.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  possessed  of  many  sterling  qualities  that  made  him  among  the 
most  respected  men  of  the  county.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife, 
Rebecca  Seagraves,  was  the  mother  of  six  children:  William;  Joseph;  Susan; 
Mar)',  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Edward,  our  subject;  and  John, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  The  father  died  in  May,  1876,  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Edward  Lawrence  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town- 
ship and  the  pay  schools  of  Salem.  I^eaching  manhood,  he  adopted  the 
calling  of  his  father  and  became  a  farmer,  first  residing  for  a  period  of  seven- 
teen years  upon  the  paternal  homestead  of  two  hundred  acres  which  he  still 
ow'Us.  He  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  in  Salem  county,  giving 
care  and  attention  to  the  preparation  of  the  soil  for  his  crops  and  to  their 
cultivation,  and  he  was  rewarded  by  a  bountiful  harvest.  He 
added  to  his  already  large  acreage  until  at  the  present  time 
he  has,  in  addition  to  the  two  hundred  acres  upon  which  he  began  his  farm- 
ing, the  well  cultivated  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres  upon 
which  he  has  resided  for  many  years  past,  and  a  half  interest  in  another 
property  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Xew  Castle  county,  Delaware,  making 
him  one  of  the  most  extensive  land-owners  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Lawrence  has  been  twice  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimonv,  his  first 


458  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  PIRST 

wife  being  E!izal)eth  Robinson,  wlio  died  ^lay  i.  1875,  leaving  one  cliild, 
Joseph,  who  married  Helen  Rittenhouse  and  lives  in  Philadelphia.  His  second 
wife,  Mary  Elizabeth  Carpenter,  is  a  daughter  of  \^'illianl  B.  Carpenter,  of 
Salem,  New  Jersey.  They  have  two  children, — Anna  and  William.  He  is  a 
Democrat,  although  his  political  enthusiasm  has  never  been  sufficiently 
strong  to  force  him  into  the  ring  for  political  honors.  j\s  a  trustee  of  the 
almshouse  he  has  served  the  county  faithfully  and  well,  while  as  a  trustee  of 
the  school  he  has  been  a  valued  friend  to  the  cause  of  education. 


JOSEPH   PAUL. 

Probably  no  resident  of  Gloucester  county  was  more  widely  or  more 
favorably  known  through  the  last  half  of  the  seventeenth  century  than 
Joseph  I^aul.  As  the  proprietor  of  the  Paul  Hotel,  of  \\'oodbury,  he  gained 
a  wide  acquaintance  and  was  very  popular,  his  social  qualities  and  sterling 
worth  gaining  for  him  the  friendship  and  high  regard  of  many  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  Viewed  from  a  financial  standpoint,  his  life  was  also  a 
success,  and  his  prosperity  was  attriliutable  entirely  to  his  own  well  directed 
efforts. 

Mr.  Paul  was  a  native  of  Swedesboro,  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  was  a  son  of  Hiram  Paul,  who  was  also  a  native  of  that  place,  where  for 
many  years  he  conducted  a  hotel.  In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
our  subject  acquired  his  education,  gaining  a  good  knowledge  of  the  English 
branches  that  well  fitted  him  for  the  practical  duties  of  life.  In  1859  he 
came  to  Woodbury,  where  he  purchased  the  Hotel  W'illis,  changing  its  name 
to  Paul's  Hotel.  From  that  time  until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
23,  1896,  he  conducted  business  and  made  his  place  one  of  the  most  popular 
hotels  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  hotel  was  especially  noted  for  the 
fine  dinners  which  it  served  to  its  guests,  and  ^Ir.  Paul  won  a  high  reputation 
as  a  terrapin  cook.  Parties  of  prominent  men  often  came  from  Philadelphia 
and  other  places  to  take  dinner  here,  and  the  Union  League  Club  of  Phila- 
delphia often  entertained  at  dinner  here,  paying  ten  dollars  a  plate! 

In  public  affairs  Mr.  Paul  was  also  very  prominent  and  was  a  recognized 
leader  in  the  circles  of  the  Republican  party.  His  hotel  was  the  rallying 
point  of  the  supporters  of  the  organization  and  many  a  slate  was  made  and 
broken  within  its  hospitable  walls.  For  seventeen  years  he  held  the  office  of 
county  collector,  and  his  long  service  well  indicated  his  fidelity  and  the  trust 
reposed  in  him. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  1878,  Mr.  Paul  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  459 

""■   --4 

Sarah  Swain,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Swain,  of  Kentucky.  Her  people  were 
extensive  slaveholders  of  that  state,  but  were  extremely  loyal  to  the  Union 
cause,  so  that  at  the  time  of  the  civil  war  her  father  and  three  of  her  brothers 
served  under  the  starry  banner  and  fought  for  the  supremacy  of  the  national 
government  at  Washington.  Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Paul  has  con- 
ducted the  hotel.  She  is  a  lady  of  marked  executive  ability  and  keen  discern- 
ment, and  success  follows  her  undertakings.  In  his  social  relations  Mr. 
Paul  was  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  was  accounted  one  of  the  valued 
representatives  of  those  ancient  and  benevolent  fraternities.  He  might  well 
be  termed  a  self-made  man,  for  starting  out  in  life  without  capital  he  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward  until  he  had  attained  a  position  of  affluence  and  at 
the  same  time  gained  the  warm  regard  of  all  whom  he  met. 

Mrs.  Paul  is  the  owner  of  Ogden  Heights,  a  handsome  country  home 
near  Woodbury,  which  was  purchased  shortly  before  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band and  where  he  died. 


ISAAC   H.   BACON. 


Isaac  Hitchner  Bacon,  of  Salem,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  is  one  of 
our  reputable,  substantial  business  men  whose  success  has  depended  largely 
on  his  own  individual  efforts.  He  is  a  son  of  Lot  and  Sarah  A.  (Hawn) 
Bacon,  and  was  born  in  Shiloh,  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  on  April 
6,  1854.  Lot  Bacon  was  also  a  native  of  that  county,  where  he  afterward 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  When  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out 
he  offered  his  ser\Mces  in  behalf  of  liberty  and  became  a  member  of  the  Twen- 
ty-fourth New  Jersey  Volunteer  Regiment  for  a  term  of  nine  months.  While 
in  the  service  he  was  afiflicted  with  jaundice  and  was  obliged  to  go  to  the 
hospital  near  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  died.  He  was  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian and  a  member  of  the  Adventists'  church.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  A.  Hawn.  who  still  sundves  him.  Their  children  were  Henry 
and  Margaret,  who  died  unmarried;  Jesse,  an  engineer,  who  married  Jane 
Hewsted;  Isaac  H..  our  subject;  John  S.,  who  married  Hettie  Edward  and 
resides  in  Salem;  and  Harriet,  deceased.  After  the  death  of  the  father  the 
mother  married  ^^'i!liam  J.  Tayler,  an  engineer,  by  whom  she  had  one  child, 
William  J.,  a  glass-blower,  who  married  Clara  Taylor. 

Mr.  Bacon  atten^ded  the  Buttonwood  school  until  the  death  of  his  father 
made  it  no  longer  possible  for  him  to  do  so,  and  he  was  obliged  to  quit  at 
the  tender  age  of  eight  years.  He  was  then  put  to  work  on  a  farm  for  a 
short  time  and  then  came  to  Salem,  where  he  began  work  for  the  firm  of 


46o  BIOGR.irniCAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Pancoast  &  Cra\an  in  tlicir  large  glass-works  as  snapper-up  boy.  He  served 
in  all  the  departments  of  the  work  as  snapper,  ])lower,  foreman  and  general 
manager  of  the  manufacturing  department,  having  some  four  hundred  men 
under  him.  This  plant  does  an  extensive  business  and  ships  its  goods  to  all 
parts  of  the  country.  After  coming  to  Salem  he  felt  the  need  of  an  educa- 
tion, and  in  order  to  achieve  it  attended  a  session  of  night  school  where  his 
time  was  profitably  spent  and  the  foundation  laid  for  a  more  comprehensive 
education  from  reading  and  general  observation. 

He  was  married  February  26,  1874,  to  Mary  I'^.  Wright,  a  daughter  of 
John  Wriglit,  a  former  school-teacher,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Alloway 
township.  They  have  two  children,  Ella,  deceased,  and  Walter.  He  has 
been  prominent  in  all  jniblic  work  and  has  spared  no  effort  to  advance  the 
welfare  of  the  nnniicipality.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Liberty 
Hook  and  Ladder  Companv,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Firemen's  Re- 
lief Association  and  the  .American  Wheelmen.  He  is  also  prominent  in 
social  circles,  being  a  member  of  the  Lidependent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
Salem  Encampment,  No.  10,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  been  an  active  worker  in  local  politics,  while  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council  he  has  been  untiring  in  working  for  the  l>est  interests  of 
his  town. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  FIARRIS. 

William  Henry  Harris  is  the  editor  of  the  South  Jerseyman,  and  through 
the  columns  of  his  paper  as  well  as  by  personal  influence  he  has  aided  largely 
in  promoting  the  substantial  welfare,  advancement  and  improvement  of 
Salem  and  the  surrounding  country.  He  was  born  in  this  city  February  10, 
1870,  pursued  his  preliminary  education  in  the  primary  and  grammar  schools 
and  aftenvard  completed  the  high-school  course.  He  then  entered  the  Times 
Printing  House  on  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  which  was  then  the  largest 
establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  On  serving  a  regular  apprenticeship  he 
became  well  qualified  for  work  in  connection  with  the  "art  preservative  of 
arts."  From  early  life  he  manifested  a  decided  taste  for  this  vocation, 
and  in  his  l)o\hood  spent  much  time  in  the  village  newspaper  office.  For 
four  years  he  remained  w'ith  the  Times  printing  house,  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  established  a  printing  house  in  Salem,  doing  job  and  mercan- 
tile printing,  in  which  enterprise  he  met  with  gratifying  success.  In  1893  ht 
purchased  The  South  Jerseyman,  consolidating  that  with  his  job  printing 
establishment.     Ftirther  particulars  are  given  a  little  further  on. 

Mr.  Harris  was  married  to  Miss  Phebe  A.  Armstrong,  of  Salem.     They 


^-^^^©^^t^^^^t^^v::.^.^. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  461 

have  three  children:  Bessie  A.,  horn  November  7,  1889:  Ralph  X..  horn 
October  8,  1891 ;  and  Clifford  W'.,  horn  October  28,  1895.  The  parents  hold 
membership  in  the  Broadway  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  First  Baptist 
church.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  very  prominent  and  influential  member  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  organi- 
zation at  the  time  of  its  establishment  and  was  a  member  of  its  board  of 
directors.  The  first  paper  that  he  ever  printed  was  the  organ  of  the  associa- 
tion. He  has  always  taken  a  very  active  part  in  its  work,  being  especially 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  young  men,  to  which  class  he  yet  belongs. 
Realizing  the  importance  of  training  and  influence  to  those  who  are  in  the 
stage  of  character  development,  he  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  aid  the  youth 
of  Salem  in  entering  upon  a  path  of  life  that  will  lead  ever  onward  and  up- 
ward. In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  always  attends  the  conventions 
of  his  party  and  has  frequently  served  as  secretary.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Garfield  Club  of  this  city  and  belongs  to  Ivanhoe  Castle,  No.  5,  K.  G.  E.,  and 
the  Fenwick  Lodge,  No.  164,  L  O.  O.  F.  His  actions  have  ever  been  such 
as  distinctively  to  entitle  him  to  a  place  in  this  publication,  and,  although  his 
career  has  not  been  filled  with  thrilling  incidents,  probably  no  biography 
appearing  in  this  work  can  serve  as  a  better  illustration  to  young  men  of  the 
power  of  honesty  and  integrity  in  securing  success. 

THE    SOUTH    JERSEYMAN. 

The  South  Jerseyman,  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  published  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  was  established  in  Salem  on  the  14th  of  June,  188 1,  by 
Charles  N.  Bell  and  D.  Harris  Smith,  and  was  published  in  the  interest  of  the 
Republican  party.  The  first  owners  remained  in  charge  until  1890,  when  the 
firm  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Smith  carrying  on  business  alone  for  two  and  a  half 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  it  was  repurchased  by  Mr.  Bell  and 
in  1893  passed  into  the  possession  of  William  H.  Harris,  the  present  owner 
and  editor.  On  the  20th  of  June  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  paper, 
which  he  has  since  published.  It  was  established  as  a  county  Republican 
organ  and  has  always  advocated  the  principles  of  the  grand  old  party,  being 
an  active  and  influential  factor  in  local  and  state  campaign  work.  It  has  the 
■  largest  circulation  of  all  papers  in  the  state  south  of  Trenton.  See  sworn 
statement  in  the  American  Newspaper  Directory.  The  circulation  is  enlarg- 
ing all  the  time,  and  in  a  year  the  figures  will  be  erratic.  It  is  a  well  edited 
journal,  neat  in  appearance,  clean  and  wholesome,  and  always  to  be  relied 
upon  to  champion  all  measures  for  the  public  good.  In  addition  to  the  well 
equipped  plant  in  Salem,  a  branch  office  is  maintained  at  Ninth  and  Arch 


462  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

streets,  Philadelphia,  for  the  convenience  of  foreign  advertisers  who  wish 
to  secure  rates,  place  business  and  for  the  reception  of  mercantile  printing. 
The  ofifice  is  patronized  by  some  of  the  best  business  houses  and  corpora- 
tions in  Philadelphia.  The  large  steam  plant,  fully  equipped  with  all  the 
latest  improvements,  insures  first-class  workmanship.  The  South  Jersey- 
man  was  first  established  as  a  four-page  folio,  and  on  the  ist  of  January, 
1900,  was  changed  to  an  eight-page  quarto,  the  latest  devices  being  used  for 
folding  and  pasting  the  paper.  This  paper  is  well  known  throughout  south- 
ern Xew  Jersey  and  was  especially  prominent  as  a  factor  in  the  election  of 
General  W.  J.  Sewell  to  the  United  States  senate  in  1897.  In  the  face  of 
strong  opposition  the  South  Jerseyman  has  had  a  rapid  growth.  It  is  the 
youngest  journal  of  the  city  and  its  progressive  and  improved  Ijusiness  meth- 
ods have  won  for  it  a  circulation  and  influence  worthy  of  much  older  journals. 
When  ]\Ir.  Harris  took  charge  he  was  the  youngest  editor  in  the  state,  but 
his  ability  as  a  journalist  was  soon  manifest,  and  his  excellent  work  is  shown 
by  the  continued  and  e\er  growing  success  which  has  attended  the  enter- 
prise. 


RICHARD  T.  STARR. 


Richard  Thompson  Starr,  the  proprietor  and  operator  of  one  of  the  largest 
canning  factories  in  southern  New  Jersey,  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and 
well  known  residents  of  Salem  county,  who  has  made  his  home  in  the  city  of 
Salem  since  1873.  He  was  born  in  Trenton,  this  state,  August  27,  1850,  and 
is  a  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  and  Mary  Mountain  (Thompson)  Starr,  widely 
known  as  a  minister  of  more  than  average  ability.  The  family  sprung  from 
one  of  three  brothers  who  came  to  America  from  England  at  an  early  day. 

Rev.  Samuel  Starr  was  the  eldest  child  of  Samuel  Starr,  a  physician,  and 
one  of  three  children:  Sanuiel;  Edward,  a  merchant  of  Xewton,  Connecti- 
cut, who  died  there  some  ten  years  ago;  and  Mary,  who  died  young.  Samuel 
was  given  a  good  education,  finishing  at  the  Trinity  College  at  Hartford. 
He  then  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Episcopalian  church  and  for  a  period  of 
more  than  twenty  years  was  stationed  at  Trenton  as  the  rector  of  the  church 
there,  while  at  the  same  time  he  served  as  the  chaplain  of  the  state's  prison 
at  that  place.  Failing  health  finally  caused  him  to  leave  the  field  where  he 
had  labored  so  long  and  faithfully,  and  it  was  with  sincere  regret  that  the 
many  friends  he  had  gathered  round  him  both  in  the  church  and  out  of  it  saw 
him  take  his  departure  for  the  west.  He  was  ofYered  the  pastorate  of  Grace 
church  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  that  thriving 
little  city  in  1854,  remaining  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  died  sud- 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  463 

denly,  in  Chicago,  in  1859,  when  returning  from  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in 
the  east.  He  was  then  in  his  fifty-fifth  year  and  had  spent  over  thirty  years 
in  the  ministry.  His  was  a  gentle,  forbearing  disposition,  and  his  labors 
were  attended  with  a  far-reaching  influence  for  good  that  was  possible  only 
to  a  man  of  his  strong  and  dominating  personality.  Under  his  charge  the 
little  church  in  the  west  thrived  and  grew  in  strength  until  a  solid  founda- 
tion was  laid  for  one  of  the  strongest  organizations  in  the  middle  west,  and 
he  is  still  held  in  loving  remembrance  by  many  of  the  older  members  who 
were  then  young  people  in  his  church.  He  was  a  shrewd  business  man  as 
well  as  eloquent  preacher,  and  invested  largely  in  the  prairie  lands  of  the  west, 
which  it  was  one  of  his  chief  pleasures  and  recreations  to  manage. 

He  was  twice  married,  the  first  ceremony  being  solemnized  by  Bishop 
Deane,  of  the  New  Jersey  diocese,  at  Buriington,  New  Jersey.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  union:  Edward,  deceased,  connected  with  the  Chicago 
Evening  Journal  for  more  than  thirty  years  and  a  graduate  of  Gambler  Col- 
lege, in  Ohio.  He  married  ^liss  Mary  McCabe,  a  sister  of  Bishop  McCabe. 
He  had  charge  of  the  advertising  department  of  the  Journal  and  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty- five  or  -six  years,  in  1888.  The  second  child  was  Rev.  William 
C.  Starr,  who  was  a  natural  mechanic  and  for  many  years  was  closely  asso- 
ciated with  railroad  magnates,  but  turned  to  the  work  of  Christ  and  for 
several  years  has  been  stationed  in  Philadelphia  as  a  supply  in  the  Episco- 
palian church.  The  wife  and  child  are  dead.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Starr  took  for 
his  second  wife  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  the  mother  of  our  subject.  Their 
children  were  Richard  Thompson;  Thomas  B.,  born  May  31,  1852,  who  was 
educated  in  the  pay  schools  and  is  associated  with  our  subject  in  business. 
He  married  !Miss  Mary  Morris,  a  daughter  of  Josiah  Morris,  of  Salem.  The 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Hedge  Thompson,  for  many  years  a  promi- 
nent physician  of  Salem  and  a  direct  descendant  of  Lord  Fenwick,  the 
founder  of  the  colony.  He  was  a  prominent  politician  of  his  day  and  repre- 
sented his  district  in  congress.  The  mother  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  attainments,  a  sw'eet  and 
lovable  nature,  and  well  suited  to  be  the  helpmeet  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 

Richard  Thompson  Starr  first  attended  private  school  at  Salem,  and  when 
his  parents  moved  west  entered  the  public  schools  of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 
Thinking  of  entering  the  legal  profession,  he  became  a  student  at  Edge  Hill, 
under  Professor  Cattell,  preparatory  to  entering  Princeton,  but  finally  aban- 
doned that  intention  and  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  commercial  life.  In 
1870  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  employ  of  the  Burlington,  Cedar  Rapids 
&  Northern  Railway  Company,  where  he  remained  a  year,  and  then  went 
to  Chicago  to  take  the  position  of  fire  and  police  reporter  on  the  Chicago 


464  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Evening-  fminial.  lie  was  not  at  all  pleased  with  this  work,  and  two  years 
sufficed  to  show  him  that  he  must  turn  to  some  other  field  for  an  employ- 
ment that  would  be  at  once  congenial  and  lucrative. 

In  1873  he  returned  east  and  with  George  Mecum  as  a  partner  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  immense  camiino;  business.  The  firm  of  Starr  and  Mecum 
began  canning  in  a  small  way,  employing  only  about  fifty  men,  but  the 
goods  put  upon  the  market  were  of  excellent  quality  and  found  a  ready 
market,  while  their  factory  furnished  the  surrounding  farmers  with  a  new 
source  of  income  and  soon  became  one  of  the  most  popular  industries  in 
that  section.  The  business  continued  to  increase  in  volume  until  their  old 
quarters  was  found  much  too  small,  and  the  firm  of  Starr  &  Brother — Mr. 
Mecum  having  been  succeeded  by  Thomas  Starr — put  up  a  factory  at  Han- 
cock's Bridge  in  1880,  which  was  operated  by  them  ten  years  and  had  a 
capacity  of  fifty  thousand  cans  per  day,  or  one  ton  of  tomatoes  in  three  and 
one-half  minutes!  The  two  factories  made  a  record  of  ninety-seven  thousand 
cans  per  day.  The  factory  at  Hancock's  Bridge  was  sold  to  Fogg  &  Hires, 
who  now  operate  it.  .\t  present  they  have  in  course  of  erection,  at  Port 
Penn,  Delaware,  a  factory  which  will  have  a  capacity  of  one  million  cans  per 
season  and  will  require  many  acres  of  tomatoes  to  supply  the  demand.  The 
factory  at  Salem,  the  Fenwick  Canning  Works,  is  the  oldest  but  one  in  the 
county,  has  an  output  of  two  million  cans  per  year,  employs  five  or  six 
hundred  people  and  consumes  the  product  of  six  or  seven  hundred  acres 
annually,  giving  to  the  farmers  a  steady  market  for  a  very  productive  crop. 

Mr.  Starr  and  Miss  Frances  E.  Titus  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  on  January  10,  1873,  and  are  the  parents  of  four  children:  Kath- 
erine,  Annie  Forman,  Mary  Thompson,  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Starr  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  city  interests,  acting  as  the  chief  of  the  Salem  fire  department  for  sixteen 
years,  represented  the  West  ward  in  the  city  council,  was  director  of  the 
board  of  freeholders,  and  was  also  an  officer  in  the  senate  when  the  Demo- 
crats made  one  of  their  attempts  at  stealing,  in  1896.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  7,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Forrest  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias;  Salem  Firemen's  Relief  Association;  Fenwick  Club,  and  the  Salem 
Country  Club.  He  is  an  attendant  of  the  Episcopalian  church  and  a  man 
whose  sterling  worth  and  integrity  have  made  him  honored  and  esteemed  by 
everyone. 

Mrs.  Starr  is  a  daughter  of  Captain  U.  B.  Titus,  of  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 
He  was  a  valiant  soldier  in  the  civil  war  and  is  now  stationed  at  Trenton. 
where  he  has  charge  of  the  coal  supply  of  the  Pennsylvania  railway.  He  is 
the  commander  of  the  Aaron  Wilkes  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Trenton,  and  takes  a 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  465 

prominent  part  in  all  the  work  of  that  organization.  He  is  well  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  state.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Anna  Forman,  a 
daughter  of  John  Fisher  Forman,  of  Monmouth  county,  this  state.  They 
had  four  children:  Sarah;  Anna,  who  married  Frank  S.  Emmons,  a  real- 
estate  dealer  of  Jersey  City  and  a  man  of  official  prominence;  Francis  E., 
the  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Joseph  B.,  who  is  the  treasurer  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railway  at  Chicago.  The  next  marriage  w'as  to  Miss  Anna  Dem- 
arest,  who  also  bore  him  four  children:  Calvin  B.,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railway  at  Chicago;  Mary,  Helen,  and  Lyman,  who  is  at 
home. 


THOMAS  W.  HURFF. 


Thomas  W.  Hurff,  deceased,  who  forms  the  chief  subject  of  this  memoir, 
was  a  native  of  Washington  township,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey, 
April  27,  181 1.  He  was  of  German  descent.  Conrad  HurfT,  the  grand- 
father, emigrated  to  America  and  purchased  from  the  proprietors  of  South 
Jersey,  a  tract  of  land,  in  what  is  now  Washington  township,  and  became  a 
prosperous  farmer.  Our  subject  was  educated  at  Turnerville,  and  when 
seventeen  years  old  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked  at  it 
until  1841.  His  father  was  George  Hurff.  Soon  the  place  became  quite 
a  prosperous  village,  and  was  known  as  Hurf¥ville.  He  also  lumbered  and 
.carried  on  farming.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat  and  was  a  member  of  the 
legislature  in  1851-52,  when  the  section  was  known  as  Camden  county.  He 
was  also  a  freeholder  the  same  period.  For  several  years  he  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Woodbury.  He  was  an  Odd  Fellow. 
In  school  matters  he  took  a  lively  interest  and  was  director  several  years. 
He  was  a  good  business  man,  and  left  a  fine  estate.  He  had  a  "hard  fight 
on  his  hands"  to  get  good  roads  in  his  tow-nship,  but  finally  succeeded. 
Through  his  efiforts  a  postoffice  was  established  at  this  point,  and  for  years 
he  was  the  postmaster.  He  was  twice  married. — the  first  time,  January  i, 
1834,  to  Martha,  a  daughter  of  John  Turner,  of  Washington  township. 
She  died  December  22,  1834.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Hannah,  a 
daughter  of  Randall  Jaygard.  Their  living  children  are:  Clark  J.,  Camden; 
Mary  H.,  the  wife  of  Augustin  Biles,  of  Pennsylvania:  Randall  J.,  at  home; 
Martha  T.,  single,  at  home;  John  M.,  of  Camden:  Thomas  W.,  of  Wood- 
bury; George  B.,  of  Sewell;  and  Elizabeth  P.,  of  Philadelphia.  The  father 
died  March  21,  1888,  but  the  good  mother  still  survives. 

Concerning  his  son  Thomas  W.  it  may  he.  said  that  he  was  born  at 
Hurffville,  New  Jersey,  July  i.  1855,  and  received  a  good  education,  at  the 

II— DD 


466  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

common  schools;  also  attended  the  South  Jersey  Institute,  at  Bridgeton. 
After  leaving  the  school-room,  he  taught  one  year,  and  then  went  into  the 
store  with  his  father.  In  1885  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother, 
the  firm  name  then  being  styled  "Hurfif  Brothers."  In  1889  he  took  his 
brother's  share  and  ran  the  store  alone  for  three  years.  He  was  assistant 
journal  clerk  in  the  New  Jersey  legislature  for  two  years.  In  1894  he  was 
appointed  as  weigher's  clerk  to  the  "coiner,"  at  the  Philadelphia  mint. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Glassboro.  December  18,  1894, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Nellie  Thatcher  Jones. 

Mr.  Hurff,  both  by  nature  and  training,  is  an  excellent  man  for  lousiness, 
and  the  place  he  held  at  the  mint  proves  him  to  be  a  correct  accountant  and 
trustworthy.  In  reviewing  the  sons  and  grandsons  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
section  of  New  Jersey,  one  is  naturally  impressed  with  the  fact  that  so  many 
of  the  present  generation  are  by  far  better  ofif  than  they  would  have  been 
had  their  parents  not  been  compelled  to  struggle  to  make  a  living  and  build 
up  for  themselves  a  home.  The  push  and  business  tact  necessary  in  their 
ancestors  has  come  to  them  as  a  natural  result, — a  blessing  in  disguise. 


JOHN  C.  RULON. 


If  those  who  claim  that  fortune  has  favored  certain  individuals  above 
others  will  but  investigate  the  causes  of  success  and  failure,  it  will  be  found 
that  the  former  is  largely  due  to  the  improvement  of  opportunity,  the  latter 
to  the  neglect  of  it.  Fortunate  environments  encompass  nearly  every  man 
at  some  stage  in  his  career,  but  the  strong  man  and  the  successful  man  is  he 
who  realizes  that  the  proper  moment  has  come,  that  the  present  and  not  the 
future  holds  his  opportunity.  The  man  who  makes  use  of  the  Now  and 
waits  not  for  the  To  Be  is  the  one  who  passes  on  the  highway  of  life  others 
who  started  out  ahead  of  him  and  reaches  the  goal  of  prosperity  far  in  ad- 
vance of  them.  It  is  this  quality  in  Mr.  Rulon  that  has  made  him  a  leader  in 
the  business  world  and  won  him  a  name  in  connection  with  banking  interests 
that  is  known  throughout  the  state.  To  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Rulon  Swedesboro 
owes  much  of  its  progress  and  improvement,  for  he  belongs  to  that  class  of 
representative  American  citizens  who,  while  j^romoting  individual  prosperity, 
also  advance  the  general  success. 

The  ancestry  of  the  family  to  which  Mr.  Rulon  belongs  may  be  traced 
back  through  many  generations.  It  is  known  from  tradition  that  one  Rulon 
came  to  this  country  from  France  during  the  persecution  of  the  Huguenots, 
some  time  between  the  years  1684  and  1704.     His  brothers  were  Catholics 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    XEiy    JERSEY.  467 

and  he  a  Protestant,  and  in  order  to  secure  his  escape  from  persecution  his 
brothers  placed  him  in  a  hogsliead  which  they  headed  up  and  sent  aboard  a 
vessel  bound  for  the  United  States.  After  the  harbor  was  cleared  he  was 
released  from  his  place  of  concealment  and  ultimately  arrived  in  safety  in 
this  country.  The  first  authentic  record  of  the  Rulon  family  concerns  David 
and  Exercise  Rulon.  The  former  died  March  15,  1778.  when  about  seventy- 
four  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Hannah  Allen  and 
was  born  August  13,  1705.  They  had  thirteen  children,  the  fourth  child 
being  Henry  Rulon,  who  was  born  June  5,  1732.  He  married  Theodosa 
Robbins,  who  was  liorn  December  15,  1742.  and  they  had  ten  children,  in- 
cluding X'athaniel  Ivulon,  who  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  His  natal 
day  was  December  30,  1764.  Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded 
Hannah  Dennis.  He  was  a  farmer  of  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  liv- 
ing near  Bridgeton,  and  was  a  man  well  known  in  that  locality.  Of  his  ten 
children  Martin  W.  was  the  youngest.  He  was  born  on  the  i6th  of  Septem- 
ber, 181 1,  and  throughout  his  business  career  was  a  cabinet-maker  and  un- 
dertaker. 

From  his  native  county  of  Cumberland  he  removed  to  Mullica  Hill,  iia 
Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  and  about  1834  took  up  his  residence  in 
La  Porte,  Indiana,  where  the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred.  About  1837 
the  family  returned  to  the  east,  locating  at  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1S43 
came  to  Swedesboro  where  the  father  established  a  cabinet  and  undertaking 
business.  He  married  Jane  Kerlin,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely:  \\'illiam  H.,  who  was  born  Octolier  23,  1834,  and  died 
October  S,  1839:  John  Charles:  Edwin,  born  December  7,  1839;  George, 
born  December  i,  1841 :  and  Mary  E.,  who  was  born  May  21,  1844,  and  died 
June  I,  1859.  After  the  death  of  the  mother  of  these  children  the  father 
wedded  Elizabeth  Lewis,  a  widow.  Their  children  are:  Fannie  P.,  who  was 
born  April  20.  1852;  and  Henry,  who  was  born  July  16,  1854,  and  died 
May  3,  1855.    The  father's  death  occurred  October  20,  1857. 

John  Charles  Rulon,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  was  born  in 
La  Porte,  Indiana,  August  23,  1836,  and  was  aliout  a  year  old  when  the 
par-ents  returned  to  New  Jersey.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  under  the  direction  of  his  father  learned  the  cabinet-mak'er's 
trade.  In  1862  he  began  business  on  his  own  account,  carrying  on  under- 
taking in  Philadelphia  until  1883,  during  which  time  he  made  his  home  in 
that  city.  With  the  assistance  of  his  uncle,  Benjamin  Rulon,  he  estal)lished 
the  bank  at  Swedesboro,  purchased  the  property  where  he  now  lives  and 
began  the  development  of  the  city  by  laying  ofif  building  lots.  He  was  made 
the  cashier  of  the  bank,  and  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  he 


468  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

was  chosen  president  of  the  board.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  opening  of 
the  place  for  business  he  resigned  as  .president  and  was  elected  cashier. 
Since  that  time  the  greater  part  of  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  bank 
has  devolved  upon  him,  and  the  high  reputation  which  the  institution  enjoys 
is  largely  the  result  of  his  well  directed  eiiforts.  The  liank  was  opened  May  i. 
1883.  having  a  capital  stock  of  fifty-three  thousand  dollars.  The  ofificers 
were:  I.  H.  Vanneman,  president;  John  S.  Batten,  vice  president:  and  John 
C.  Rulon,  cashier.  All  have  continued  to  occupy  their  respective  positions 
up  to  the  present  time,  and  a  number  of  the  original  board  of  directors  are  still 
serving.  On  being  elected  cashier  Mr.  Rulon  disposed  of  his  business  inter- 
ests in  Philadelphia  and  soon  afterward  moved  to  Swedeshoro.  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home. 

During  this  time  he  has  taken  a  very  active  and  connnendable  interest 
in  the  affairs  which  tend  to  improve  and  benefit  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the 
■promoters  and  incorporators  of  the  Swedesboro  Electric  Light,  Heat  & 
Power  Company,  in  which  he  has  since  served  as  a  director,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  directorate  of  the  water-works  company.  He  established  the 
telephone  system  of  the  village  and  opened  up  and  improved  the  Lake  Park 
cemetery,  of  which  he  is  still  one  of  the  owners  and  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees.  He  is  also  the  treasurer  of  the  local  board  of  the  State  Building 
&  Loan  Association.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment  in  business  affairs,  and 
his  wise  counsel  has  proven  an  important  factor  in  the  successful  conduct  of 
many  of  the  leading  business  concerns  of  Swedesboro.  He  has  done  much 
to  improve  property  in  the  town,  and  the  village  certainly  has  reason  to  be 
grateful  to  him  for  his  efforts  in  its  behalf. 

His  own  home  here  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  residences  in  the  town. 
Its  gracious  hospitality  is  dispensed  by  the  lady  who  prior  to  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  Rulon  was  Miss  Mary  Anna  Black.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander 
Black,  one  of  the  early  and  honored  citizens  of  the  county,  and  now  has  two 
children :  Carrie,  the  wife  of  Robert  Gwynne,  of  Salem :  and  Mary  Emma,  at 
home.  Socially  Mr.  Rulon  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Swedesboro  Lodge, 
No.  157;  Salome  Chapter,  No.  19,  at  Camden;  and  to  Mary  Commandery, 
No.  36,  of  Philadelphia.  He  also  holds  membership  relations  with  Metro- 
politan Lodge,  No.  227,  K.  of  P.,  of  Philadelphia,  with  Covenant  Lodge, 
No.  14,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Encampment,  No.  36,  both  of  Philadelphia.  He 
is  the  secretary  of  his  Masonic  blue  lodge,  and  was  largely  instrumental  in 
founding  the  same.  His  father  was  a  Friend,  his  mother  an  Episcopahan, 
and  he  and  his  family  attend  the  Episcopal  church.  In  his  political  views  he 
is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  Republican  party,  deeply  interested  in  all  that 
pertains  to  its  growth  and  success.     In  all  the  active  affairs  of  business  life 


COXGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  469 

he  has  borne  an  unassailable  reputation,  and  through  his  capable  manage- 
ment, keen  discernment  and  honorable  efforts  he  has  gained  a  position 
among  the  wealthy  residents  of  his  county.  The  development  of  the  state 
is  due  to  such  men,  whose  indomitable  energy  and  progressive  spirit  have 
overcome  all  obstacles  and  reached  the  goal  of  prosperity.  He  is  not  so 
abnormally  developed  as  to  be  called  a  genius,  but  is  one  of  the  strongest 
because  one  of  the  best  balanced,  the  most  even  and  self-masterful  of  men, 
and  he  lias  ,acted  his  part  so  well  in  both  public  and  private  life  that  Xew 
Jersey  has  lieen  enriched  1)y  his  example,  his  character  and  his  labor. 


REUBEN   TOWXSEND. 

One  of  tlie  veneralile  citizens  of  Cape  May  Court  House  is  Reuben 
Townsend,  who  has  now  passed  the  eighty-second  mile-stone  on  life's  jour- 
ney. His  has  been  an  active  and  useful  career,  characterized  by  fidelity  to 
duty  and' by  honesty  in  all  business  affairs, — qualities  which  have  won  him 
a  place  among  the  honored  residents  of  his  native  county  and  made  his 
example  one  well  worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  born  at  Ocean  A^iew,  December  20,  181 7,  and  is  a 
descendant  of  Sir  Charles  Townsend,  of  England.  The  family  was  founded 
in  America  l)v  two  lirothers,  John  and  Svlvanus  Townsend,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Throughout  the 
colonial  epoch  of  our  country's  history,  through  the  Revolutionary  period 
and  the  age  of  the  latter-day  progress  and  development,  therefore,  the  Town- 
sends  have  been  connected  with  the  events  which  mark  the  annals  of  this 
republic.  John  Townsend  became  the  founder  of  the  branch  of  the  family 
whose  representatives  are  now-  found  in  New  Jersey,  Philadelphia  and  other 
adjoining  sections.  He  first  located  on  Long  Island,  whence  he  removed 
to  Ocean  View,  where  he  built  and  operated  a  mill.  Subsequently  he  went 
to  Townsend's  Inlet,  Cape  ]May  county,  where  he  purchased  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land.  His  children  were  Richard,  Robert,  Sylvanus  and 
Sarah. 

Of  these,  Richard  Townsend  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject. He  went  to  Philadelphia,  but  later  purchased  land  and  settled  in  Dela- 
ware. He  married  ^lillicent  Somers.  of  Somers'  Point,  New  Jersey,  June  16, 
1704,  and  their  children  were  Phoebe,  John,  Hannah,  Richard,  Syh'anus, 
Isaac,  Alillicent.  Samuel,  Robert,  Daniel  and  Jacob.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  John  Townsend,  who  died  in  1785.  He  married  Sarah 
Brandreth,  and  thev  had  four  children:    Amv,  Millicent,  David  and  Rachel. 


470  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

The  mother  died,  and  in  1740  John  Townsend  married  Tabitha 
Young,  by  whom  he  had  the  following  children:  Henry  Y..  Tabitha.  John. 
Sarah.  Judith.  Hannah.  Rachel  and  Joshua.  The  eldest  of  these,  Henrj^ 
Young  Townsend.  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  engaged  in  sur- 
veying and  in  dealing  in  real  estate;  but  when  the  colonies  attempted  to  throw 
ofY  the  yoke  of  British  tyranny  he  put  aside  all  personal  considerations  and 
aided  in  the  struggle  for  independence  until  England  acknowledged  the 
sovereignty  of  this  republic.  He  afterward  represented  his  district  in  the 
state  legislature  and  was  a  very  influential  and  honored  citizen.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Priscilla  Ludlum.  by  whom  he  had 
two  children. — Tabitha  and  Reuben.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Edith  Swain, 
and  their  children  were  Joshua.  Henry  and  Priscilla. 

Joshua  Townsend.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Seaville  or  Ocean 
View,  on  the  9th  of  July.  1786.  and  while  a  young  man  served  as  first  lieu- 
tenant in  a  company  from  Cape  ^lay  county  that  entered  the  countr>-'s 
senice  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  also  very  prominent  in  political  affairs, 
and  his  strong  individuality  and  mentality  well  fitted  him  for  a  position  of 
leadership.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  in  1819.  1821, 
1822  and  1823.  was  a  member  of  the  legislative  council  from  1827  until  1830, 
also  from  1831  until  1834.  and  in  1840  was  a  presidential  elector,  casting  his 
ballot  for  Harrison  and  Tyler.  His  political  support  was  given  the  Whig 
party  until  its  dissolution,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican 
party,  for  he  was  a  stanch  abolitionist  and  gave  his  support  to  the  organiza- 
tion which  was  formed  to  prevent  the  further  extension  of  slavery'.  He  was  a 
faithful  and  earnest  worker  in  the  Baptist  church,  gave  the  ground  on  which 
Calvary  church  at  South  Seaville  was  erected,  and  in  other  ways  advanced 
the  cause  of  Christianity  among  men.  He  disliked  oppression  and  was  a 
bitter  foe  to  injustice  and  deceit.  In  his  character  were  many  noble  elements 
and  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Joshua  Townsend  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Schillinger.  of 
that  place,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  these  children :  Aaron,  who  was 
bom  in  September.  1810:  Mary,  born  April  2^.  1812.  became  the  wife  of 
Uriah  Hewitt;  Reuben,  who  is  the  third  of  the  family;  James,  born  April  13. 

1816: became  the  wife  of  Henry  Young;  William,  born  November 

25.  181S.  wedded  Mary  Leaming;  Isabella,  bom  October  30,  1820.  became 
the  wife  of  John  Stevens,  a  Delaware  pilot;  Caroline,  born  August  3.  1823, 
became  the  wife  of  John  L.  Smith;  and  Elizabeth,  born  July  17.  1831.  became 
the  wife  of  Daniel  H.  Wheaton.  of  Sea  Isle.  The  father  of  these  children 
died  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  and  the  mother's  death  oc- 
curred in  her  eighty-first  year. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  471 

Reuben  Townsend,  wliose  name  introduces  this  review,  is  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  an  honored  family  whose  prominence  in  public  afifairs  has  inter- 
wo\en  the  name  with  the  history  of  the  state.  He  pursued  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Ocean  View  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  put  aside 
his  text-books  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  Subsequently  he  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business  for  thirty  years,  and  during  that  time  wrote  policies 
to  the  amount  of  four  million  dollars,  for  the  Cumberland  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company.  He  has  also  followed  farming,  and  is  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  but  is  not  now  actively  connected  with  busi- 
ness affairs.  However,  he  has  for  several  years  been  a  director  in  the 
Cumberland  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  but  is  practically  living  re- 
tired, enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

In  1844  Mr.  Townsend  married  Miss  Julia  Learning,  and  for  forty  years 
they  traveled  life's  journey  together,  sharing  the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  ad- 
versity and  prosperity,  which  checker  the  lives  of  all.  In  1884,  however, 
Mr.  Townsend  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  Their  children  were  Pennington  Somers.  who  died  at 
the  age  of  six  years; Augusta, who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  months;  Lucien 
B.,  who  died  aged  two  years;  Florence  L.,  who  married  Rev.  Charles  War- 
wick, now  the  pastor  of  the  Diamond  Street  Baptist  church,  of  Philadelphia. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Townsend  is  a  Republican  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  party.  He  is  an  earnest  and  faithful 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  served  as  the  chairman  of  the 
board  of  trustees  for  fifteen  years,  and  to  its  support  he  contributed  liberally. 
Over  the  record  of  his  life  there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong,  for  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  his  public  and  private  career  he  has  been  true  to  his  God,  to  himself 
and  his  countrv. 


RICHARD  J.  CLARK. 


An  enterprising  merchant  of  Wenonah  is  Richard  J.  Clark,  who  is  suc- 
cessfully conducting  a  general  store.  He  was  born  in  Glassboro,  Gloucester 
county,  March  31,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  C.  Clark,  also 
natives  of  the  same  county,  the  former  born  August  11,  181 1,  the  latter 
August  13,  1813.  Our  subject  spent  the  first  thirteen  years  of 
his  life  in  his  native  town  and  then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Ewan.  New  Jersey,  in  1868.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  1876,  when  he 
turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  becoming  a  salesman  in  the 
store  of  his  brother,  .A.  S.  Clark,  of  Ewan.     For  four  vears  he  was  there  em- 


472  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ployed,  and  in  1880  he  went  to  Winslow,  Camden  county,  New  Jersey,  where 
he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  Hay  &  Company,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained two  years.  In  March.  1883.  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  by  his 
brother,  R.  C.  Clark,  at  Hurffville.  continuing  in  that  position  until  1885, 
when  he  purchased  the  store,  stock,  fixtures  and  business  of  B.  F.  Coles, 
of  Wenonah.  He  has  since  conducted  a  general  merchandising  business 
here,  and  now  has  a  well  appointed  store,  stocked  with  everything  found 
in  a  first-class  establishment  of  the  kind.  His  business  methods  are  those 
which  win  the  public  confidence  and  therefore  the  pubHc  support.  He  is 
diligent  and  persevering,  and  is  strictly  honorable  and  reliable,  never  mis- 
representing his  goods,  and  striving  only  by  just  methods  to  gain  the  public 
patronage. 

In  1890  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  McCracken, 
of  Hurffville,  New  Jersey,  and  they  have  two  children, — Raymond  J.  and 
Herbert, — aged  respectively  five  and  three  years  old.  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  are  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  Wenonah.  Mr.  Clark's  business  career  has  been  characterized  by  un- 
faltering perseverance,  close  application,  and  honorable  methods, — qualities 
which  never  fail  to  bring  success. 


A.   W.   CAREY,   JR. 

In  past  ages  the  history  of  a  country  was  a  record  of  wars  and  conquests: 
to-day  it  is  the  record  of  commercial  activity,  and  those  whose  names  are 
foremost  in  its  annals  are  the  leaders  in  business  circles.  The  conquests  now 
made  are  those  of  mind  over  matter,  not  man  over  man,  and  the  victor  is 
he  who  can  successfully  establish,  control  and  operate  extensive  commercial 
interests.  Mr.  Carey  is  one  of  the  strong  and  influential  men  occupying  a 
prominent  place  in  industrial  circles  of  Philadelphia.  Tireless  energy,  keen 
perception,  earnestness  of  purpose,  genius  for  devising  and  executing  the 
right  thing  at  the  right  time,  joined  to  everyday  common  sense,  guided  by 
great  will  power, — these  are  his  chief  characteristics.  Connected  with  an 
important  business  interest  of  Philadelphia,  the  place  that  he  occupies  in 
commercial  circles  is  in  the  front  rank. 

Mr.  Carey  is  a  native  of  Delaware,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Wil- 
mington,-in  1832.  His  father  was  a  cooper,  and  he  was  early  trained  to 
industrial  pursuits.  After  attending  the  public  schools  and  acquiring  a  fair 
English  education,  he  learned  the  trade  of  brick  mason  and  later  engaged 
in  contracting  in  that  line.     In  June.   1859,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Dr. 


<^tAJt^, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  473 

S.  S.  White,  a  l)rother-in-la\v,  and  learned  the  lousiness  of  making  teeth  for 
use  in  dentistry.  He  mastered  the  trade  in  its  various  departments  and  as 
time  passed  was  given  greater  responsibility,  ultimately  being  made  super- 
intendent, which  position  he  yet  holds.  His  excellent  executive  ability  well 
fits  him  for  the  duties  that  devolve  upon  him,  and  imder  his  able  manage- 
ment the  business  has  proved  a  profitable  investment. 

■Mr.  Carey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Esther  Rogers  Sheppard,  a 
daughter  of  Josiah  Foster  Sheppard,  of  Philadelphia.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, Thomas  Mendenhall,  had  the  honor  of  raising  the  first  United  States 
flag,  ever  unfurled  to  the  breeze  in  Porto  Rico  after  the  war  for  independ- 
ence. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carey  have  been  born  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  James  W.,  a  resident  of  Wenonah;  A,  W.,  also  of  Weno- 
nah;  Sarah  W.,  the  wife  of  John  W.  Cox,  of  Virginia;  and  S.  R.,  of  Wenonah. 
Since  1872  Mr.  Carey  has  resided  in  Wenonah,  going  daily  to  his  business 
in  Philadelphia.  He  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  and  progress 
of  the  former  place  and  at  one  time  was  elected  and  served  as  its  mayor. 
His  political  influence  is  given  to  the  Repubhcan  party  and  he  keeps  well 
informed  on  the  issues  and  questions  of  the  day.  Of  the  Presbyterian  church 
he  is  a  valued  member  and  has  served  as  its  trustee.  His  business  record 
is  a  most  creditable  one  and  in  social  life  he  commands  the  regard  of  many 
friends. 

A.  \\' .  Carey,  Jr.,  the  sbn  and  namesake  of  him  whose  sketch  appears 
above,  was  reared  in  his  parents'  home  and  supplemented  his  early  educa- 
tional privileges  by  a  course  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1895  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  S.  S.  White  Dental  Manufacturing  Company  and 
has  risen  to  the  position  of  assistant  superintendent.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  marked  business  ability,  and  his  ambition,  perseverance  and  industry  will 
undoubtedly  gain  for  him  a  creditable  success  and  win  him  a  prominent  po- 
sition in  commercial  circles.  He  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  takes 
an  active  part  in  church  and  Sunday-school  work,  and  by  his  sterling  char- 
acter has  gained  uniform  regard. 

"  PIONEERING    IN    \VENON.\H." 

[Prepared  for  and  read  at  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  of  the   First  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Wenonah.  Thursday  Evening,  September  29,  1898.  By  .\ndre\v  W.  Carey.] 

A  ready  talker,  and  one  possessed  of  good  memory,  might  present  at 
this  time  many  things  to  interest  you  with  the  early  history  of  Wenonah; 
but  I  can  lay  no  claim  to  the  first  Cjualification,  and  the  second  is  in  my  case 
much  at  fault,  l)ut  can  doubtless  be  atoned  for  by  what  my  friend.   Dr. 


474  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Bailey,  may  l)e  able  to  recall  for  your  eilificatioii,  as  \vc  l)oth  are  lined  off 
under  the  head  of  "Pioneering-  in  W'enonah." 

Pioneeering  was  not  an  entirely  new  thing-  to  nie  when  1  found  myself 
domiciled  in  Wenonah,  having  in  the  early  "fifties"  done  some  pioneer  work 
in  California,  in  the  North  West  Territories  and  in  British  Columbia. 

In  those  experiences  our  greatest  vigilance  was  to  guard  against  a  sur- 
prise or  attack  from  either  the  unfriendly  Indians  or  grizzly  bears:  whilst 
here  in  Wenonah  were  no  wild  beasts  to  devour  one,  nor  savages  to  run 
away  with  your  scalp;  but  there  was  here  at  that  time  an  enemy  to  peace  and 
comfort,  sometimes  hidden  in  the  grass,  sometimes  confronting  one  in  solid 
column,  that  I  dreaded  more  than  I  ever  did  a  surprise  from  either  an  Indian 
or  a  grizzly  Isear,  and  that  enemy  to  the  comfort  of  our  early  settlers  here  was 
the  sand-burr. 

Whilst  in  the  early  days  in  San  Francisco,  I.  like  hundreds  of  others, 
have  gone  to  church  on  a  Sabbath  with  a  six-shooter  belted  around  the 
waist,  here  one  only  needed  a  good  knife  blade  to  shave  off  the  sand-burrs 
before  entering  a  neighbor's  house  or  our  early  place  of  worship.  The 
first  year  of  my  residence  here,  we  had  no  sidewalks  laid,  and  the  sand-burrs 
were  so  profuse  between  our  fence  lines  and  the  present  curb  line,  that  one 
was  compelled  to  take  the  middle  of  the  road  to  elude  so  far  as  possible  our 
common  enemy.  However,  we  braved  it,  we  survived  it.  and  to-day  we  can 
with  pride  claim  that  Wenonah  is  as  beautiful  as  her  name. 

In  the  limited  time  allotted,  it  would  be  folly  to  undertake  to  relate  the 
many  things  connected  with  the  early  histor}-  of  this  church.  Ours  is  some- 
what out  of  the  ordinary  experience,  as  in  this  case,  the  church  is  the  child 
of  the  Sabbath-school,  and  to  our  friend,  Dr.  George  W.  Bailey,  more  than 
any  other  belongs  the  credit  for  having  started  a  Sabbath-school  which  was 
the  parent  of  this  church.  This  was  twenty-six  years  ago,  our  first  gather- 
ing in  that  capacity  being  in  September,  1872,  in  the  room  now  occupied 
as  Sithen's  store.  Interest  in  the  Sabbath-school  being  fully  established, 
the  same  energetic  leader  secured  the  services  of  a  local  Methodist  preacher 
in  our  neighborhood  to  give  us  a  sermon  in  the  same  room  on  a  Sunday 
evening.  That  Methodist  brother  is  well-known  to  many  of  you  as  William 
Cattell,  and  he  it  was  who  preached  the  first  sermon  in  Wenonah.  and  we 
all  felt  grateful  to  him  and  nearer  to  each  other.  This  was  followed  at 
irregular  interv'als,  sometimes  in  the  afternoon  following  the  Sunday-school 
exercises,  and  sometimes  of  an  evening,  just  as  arrangements  could  be 
made;  but  most  of  these  services  were  conducted  in  the  waiting-room  of  the 
old  West  Jersey  Railroad  station,  as  we  had  been  obliged  to  vacate  our  first 
quarters  to  permit  its  occu])ancy  by  Dr.  Garrison,  the  owner,  who  had  kindly 


COA'GRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  475 

given  us  its  use  until  he  was  ready  to  fit  it  up  as  a  drug  store.  Before  we 
left  the  old  corner,  however,  we  had  several  afternoon  preaching  services. 
One  of  these  occasions  I  well  remember,  as  an  unusual  downpour  of  rain 
made  it  seem  very  doubtful  about  securing  attendance  upon  the  Sunday- 
school,  and  we  felt  particularly  disappointed,  because  Dr.  Bailey  had  en- 
gaged the  services  of  iMr.  Brace  of  Blackwoodtown  to  preach  to  us  after 
school,  but  we  were  highly  gratified  to  find  a  good  attendance  at  the  school, 
and  after  its  dismissal  we  began  to  rearrange  the  chairs,  etc.,  in  case  Mr. 
Brace  should  come.  The  rain  ceased  falling,  but  the  roads  were  in  bad 
shape,  yet  a  few  of  us  lingered  awhile,  taking  an  occasional  look  up  the 
road.  I  finally  said:  ''Well.  I  think  we  might  as  well  make  our  way  home, 
for  there'll  be  no  preaching  here  this  day:  it  has  been  too  stormy  for  Mr. 
Brace  to  get  here."  "Xow  don't  you  settle  down  to  any  such  idea  as  that," 
said  Dr.  Bailey,  "for  I  believe  he'll  come  yet;  it's  a  hard  pull:  but  I  know 
the  man  too  well  to  give  him  up  yet;"  and,  sure  enough,  in  a  little  while, 
along  came  our  true  and  tried  friend  Mr.  Brace.  Upon  other  after  school 
occasions,  the  late  Mr.  Harris,  then  pastor  of  the  Woodbury  church,  and 
others  favored  us  with  a  sei-vice.  Our  first  organist  in  the  Sunday-school 
was  a  girl  in  my  class,  Miss  Fanny  Clark,  now  Mrs.  Howard  Hendrickson, 
and  the  lady  we  had  to  depend  upon  to  play  the  organ  at  our  evening 
preaching  services  was  !Mrs.  Carey  (my  wife),  who  did  her  level  best,  just 
as  we  all  did  what  we  were  called  upon  to  perform.  She  could  lead  ofif  the 
tune  with  her  right  hand  quite  well,  and  tumble  in  a  pretty  good  home- 
made harmony  with  her  left,  and  we  all  sung  with  gladness  in  our  hearts. 

There  were  many  experiences  had  then  that  could  not  be  re-enacted. 
Sometimes  we  chipped  in  with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Glassboro,  en- 
gaged a  minister  from  Philadelphia,  who  would  go  down  on  Saturday  night 
to  Glassboro  to  preach  for  them  in  the  morning,  and  one  of  their  members 
who  was  a  section  boss  on  the  railroad  would  gather  up  a  crew  and  run 
the  minister  up  to  AVenonah  on  a  hand-car  to  preach  for  us  in  the  afternoon 
or  evening.  I  think  our  first  pastor,  Mr.  O'Brian,  enjoyed  that  novelty 
once.  I  distinctly  remember  that  on  one  of  those  occasions,  the  minister 
who  was  the  victim  for  that  experience  upon  a  very  windy  day,  made  his 
appearance  among  us  minus  a  hat.  as  it  had  been  whipped  off  by  the  wind 
from  his  head  and  carried  beyond  recovery. 

There  was  one  whose  memory  I  recall  in  connection  with  our  early  days 
as  a  great  helper  who  enjoyed  a  part  in  our  primitive  work  when  he  would 
come  down  from  the  city  to  visit  his  children.  He  was  a  leader,  an  earnest 
Christian,  who  long  since  entered  upon  the  heavenly  rest.  I  allude  to  Mr. 
Eldridee,  Mrs.  Svnott's  father.    His  earnest  exhortations  were  alwavs  stimu- 


4;6  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

lating  and  elevating,  because  liis  lieart  was  w  arm  in  tlie  work  for  the  Master. 

I  will  add  .but  one  little  incident  that  has  been  recalled  to  me,  that  when 
the  excavation  for  this  chnrch  building  bad  been  sufficiently  completed 
for  starting  upon  the  foundation  walls,  my  son  James,  then  a  little  tot  still 
in  frocks,  was  enjoying  himself  about  the  work  with  his  little  wheebbarrow. 
when  the  idea  suggested  itself  to  the  mind  of  one  of  the  men  engaged  on 
the  work  to  have  the  little  fellow  wheel  the  first  stone  into  the  cellar  to  be 
placed  in  the  walls.  That  man  I  believe  was  George  Dilks,  who  placed  the 
stone  on  the  barrow  and  started  the  little  fellow  on  his  way  with  the  first  stone 
to  be  laid  in  this  structure.  Jim  was  then  just  about  the  age  that  his  son 
Allen  now  is,  "just  about  such  a  lark."' 

These  recollections  could  be  extended  to  co\-er  many  incidents  connected 
with  the  early  days  of  our  efforts  to  establish  a  permanent  church  here;  but 
I  fully  realize  that  I  have  already  exceeded  the  time  allotted  me.  and  will 
be  glad  with  you  to  hear  from  our  organizer.  Dr.  Bailey. 

reminiscp:nces  and  reflections. 

BV    .ANDREW    W.     CAREV,    ESQ. 

[Prepared  For  and  Read  at  the  Twenty-first  Anniversary  of  the  Sunday-School  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  Wenonah,  New  Jersey,  October  8,  1893.] 

I  well  remember  with  what  pleasure  wc  celebrated  the  first  anniversary 
of  this  Sabbath-School.  It  was  in  this  chapel,  in  September,  1873.  Be- 
ginning with  a  few^  persons,  first  gathered  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Dr.  Geo.  W.  Bailey,  in  September,  1872,  twenty-one 
years  ago,  to  a  meeting  held  in  the  store-room  of  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  Fisler,  where  with  the  presence  and  aid  of  several  of  the  Wenonah 
House  guests,  the  first  Sabbath-school  service  in  Wenonah  w-as  enjoyed, 
conducted  chiefly  by  Mr.  Stephen  ]\IcHenry,  a  sojourner  at  the  Wenonah 
House  and  subsequently  for  some  time  a  resident  of  this  place.  During  the 
week  following  this  first  Sabbath  service,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Dr.  Bailey  to  enter  upon  a  permanent  organization  of  the  Sunday-school. 
This  meeting  was  composed  of  Dr.  Bailey,  Mr.  Synott  and  myself.  Dr. 
Bailey  was  called  upon  to  preside.  After  some  informal  talk  upon  the  subject 
it  was  unanimously  decided  that  our  school  should  be  a  Presbyterian  Sunday- 
school.  That  matter  having  been  decided,  the  next  thing  in  order  was  to 
furnish  the  school  with  the  requisite  officers  to  conduct  and  maintain  it. 

Here  was  a  perplexing  condition  to  be  met  and  overcome  by  three  modest 
gentlemen;  but  duty  was  paramount  to  choice,  and  so  making  the  best  of  the 


CONGRESSIOXAL    DISTRICT    OF    XEJV   JERSEY.  477 

situation,  without  wasting  time  in  caucus,  we  nominated  and  elected  each 
other  to  fill  the  necessary  otTices.  The  result  was  as  follows:  Superintendent, 
Dr.  Geo.  W.  Bailey;  secretary,  A.  W.  Carey:  treasurer.  Thos.  W.  Synnott; 
treasurer  of  Missionary  Fund,  A.  \V.  Carey;  and  librarian,  Thos.  W.  Synnott. 

These  officers  were  elected  without  a  dissenting  voice,  and  continued  to 
fill  their  respective  ofifices  for  several  years;  in  fact,  I  believe  in  the  case  of 
the  librarian,  Mr.  Synnott  has  held  that  position  from  the  beginning  up  to 
the  present  time.     So  much  for  the  organization  of  our  school. 

Dr.  Bailey  was  not  slow  in  gathering  scholars  and  arranging  classes  and  in 
pushing  into  the  work  any  and  all  who  had  any  capacity  to  act  as  teachers. 
As  a  result  we  very  soon  had  an  interesting  Sunday-school,  well  attended, 
and  it  was  a  pleasure  all  the  week  to  look  ahead  to  Sunday.  A  little  later  on. 
when  the  then  owner  of  that  building.  Dr.  Garrison,  was  readv  to  occupy  it 
as  a  drug  store  and  residence,  our  school  was  removed  to  the  \\'.  J-  R.  R- 
station,  where  it  was  continued  until  this  building  was  ready  for  use. 

How  I  love  to  recall  those  early  days;  how  when  we  had  secured  some 
one  to  preach  for  us  in  the  evening,  the  announcement  was  carried  out  from 
the  Sunday-school  and  the  neighbors  gathered  for  service;  and  how  we 
used  to  tramp  to  the  place  of  meeting,  taking  the  middle  of  the  road,  for 
we  had  no  sidewalks  then,  and  the  middle  of  the  road  was  the  only  place 
free  from  sand-burrs.  Dr.  Bailey  would  carry  from  his- house  a  lamp  or  two, 
Mr.  Synnott  another,  myself  another,  and  our  large  family  bible  for  the  use 
of  the  preacher. 

Now  you  can  not  imagine  how  much  we  enjoyed  those  times.  And 
why?  Because  we  were  building;  we  were  looking  forward  hopefully  and 
feeling  assured  of  a  brighter  future,  believing  we  should  some  time  gain 
what  we  now  all  enjoy,  an  inviting  pleasant  place  of  worship,  a  regular  min- 
istry and  a  flourishing,  happy  and  useful  church  and  Sabbath-school. 

Notwithstanding  our  efforts  were  crowned  with  success  from  the  begin-* 
ning,  it  was  step  by  step.  Our  first  improvised  pulpit  was  composed  of 
an  empty  soap-box  which  I  sawed  down  at  a  suitable  angle  and  placed  on 
a  small  table,  hiding  the  roughness  of  construction  with  a  small  organ  cover; 
and  we  all  thought  we  had  something  quite  nice,  and  I  know  we  all  richly 
enjoyed  the  clear  gospel  truths  which  came  to  us  from  o\er  the  old  soap-box. 
Some  of  those  who  are  still  in  the  school  will  doubtless  remember  how  we 
used  to  pen  oft'  the  little  folks  behind  a  few  home-made  screens  in  this  corner. 

Now  see  what  a  cozy  little  room  the\'  have  to  themselves.  The  first 
preaching  service  we  enjoyed  here  was  before  the  Iniilding  was  entirely 
closed  in;  the  roof  was  on  and  the  floor  laid,  and  my  recollection  is  not 
quite  clear  as  to  whether  the  building  was  sided  in  or  not,  but  I  think  only 


478  BlOGR.irillC.lL  mSTORV  OF  THE  FIRST 

partly  so.  However,  Mr.  Ih'ace,  of  Blackwoodtown.  was  to  preach  for  us 
on  Sunday  afternoon,  anrl  tlicrc  was  sometliing  to  Ije  done  in  gcttins: 
ready  for  it,  so  we  started  in  on  Satnrda\-  afternoon  to  clear  out  the  rubbish, 
and  with  rough  boards  we  rigged  up  seats  in  regular  camp  meeting  style 
read}-  for  the  following  day. 

I  never  enjoyed  a  service  more  than  tliat  one.  However,  there  have 
been  many  I  have  enjoyed  perhaps  equally  well,  and  to-day  I  am  glad  to 
meet  with  you  upon  this  anniversary  occasion.  We  have  been  highly 
favored  and  kindly  dealt  with,  and  it  is  fitting  that  we  give  expression  to  our 
thanks  in  these  annual  services.  The  older  ones  of  us  look  back  with 
pleasure  as  we  trace  the  growth  and  dex'elopment  of  many  of  the  young  men 
and  women  of  to-day  who  were  once  numbered  among  the  little  folks  in  this 
Sabbath-school,  l)ut  who  are  to-day  in  the  front  rank  as  workers,  some  in 
this,  and  some  in  other  communities,  but  all  I  guarantee  looking  back  with 
pleasure  upon  this  as  their  early  "Sabbath  Home." 

I  recollect  that  once  in  talking  to  this  school  I  told  a  story  of  a  little 
boy  who  said  to  his  mother:  "I  see  pictures  with  my  eyes  closed,"  and 
from  his  saying  I  drew  a  picture,  the  desirable  side  of  which  has  been  since 
realized  in  more  than  one  instance  from  among  our  scholars. 

The  saying  of  the  little  boy  to  his  mother  was  after  they  had  been  travel- 
ing, and  as  he  sat  with  his  eyes  closed,  thinking  over  their  journeyings,  e\-ery- 
thing  seemed  to  pass  in  review,  so  he  had  in  his  mind's  eye  a  grand  picture 
of  all  they  had  seen.  So  I  often  see  pictures  with  my  eyes  closed,  I  look 
upon  you  now  with  your  bright  eyes  and  cheerful  faces  full  of  hope  and 
promise,  I  will  close  my  eyes  and  see  what  the  picture  is.  Now  in  imagin- 
ation I  behold  these  boys  grown  to  manhood.  Some  of  them  bloated,  be- 
sotted and  profane;  one  engaged  in  a  drunken  brawl;  another  a  burglar; 
another  a  murderer  on  the  gallows;  another  occupying  a  solitary  convict 
cell.  And  so  with  the  little  girls  grown  to  women  engaged  in  vices  of 
various  forms  and  filling  dens  of  infamy.  \Miat  a  fearful  picture!  I  open 
my  eyes,  and  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  as  you  are. 

I  close  my  eyes  again  and  another  picture  passes  before  me.  Now  I 
see  these  boys  become  men  of  sterling  worth,  filling  honorable  and  re- 
sponsible positions  in  society.  Some  of  them  laboring  for  their  Master  in 
the  Sabbath-school.  One  has  turned  his  attention  to  law  and  is  pleading 
the  cause  of  the  downtrodden  and  oppressed;  another  is  a  doctor  of  medicine 
and  is  ministering  to  the  sick;  another  has  become  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
a  herald  of  the  cross,  proclaiming  salvation  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 

I  also  see  these  girls,  now  grown  to  be  lovely  women,  making  their 
homes  the  dearest   spots  on  earth,   scattering  love   and  joy   about   them 


CONGRESSIO.XAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  479 

wherever  they  go.  and  making  every  one  hetter  for  having  been  with  them, 
and  when  I  open  my  eyes  and  look  upon  you,  how  glad  I  am  to  know  that 
this  last  picture  may  be  the  true  one  with  you.  Which  one  shall  it  be?  It 
is  for  you  to  choose.  These  kind  officers  and  teacliers  to  help  you,  but  you 
are  to  decide. 

Let  me  tell  you  how  to  do  it.  Did  you  ever  think  how  an  icicle  is 
formed?  First,  one  little  drop  of  water  comes  trickling  down  under  the  snow 
on  the  roof  until  it  reaches  the  edge;  it  is  not  quite  heavy  enough  to  drop 
down  at  once,  so  it  remains  hanging  there,  out  of  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sun,  and  so  instead  of  dropping  off  it  freezes.  The  warm  sun  ajjove  brings 
down  another  drop  on  this  frozen  one  and  it  also  freezes,  and  so  it  keeps  on, 
drop  by  drop,  until  a  beautiful  long  and  large  crystal  is  formed  that  next 
morning  when  the  sun  shines  on  it  it  glistens  and  glows  in  beauty,  throwing 
out  beautiful  colors  like  the  rainbow.  You  have  often  seen  them  hanging 
down  from  the  eaves  of  your  house  or  barn.  Now  did  you  ever  think  why 
these  were  so  beautiful  and  pure?  I  will  tell  you  why  it  is.  This  icicle  was 
formed  on  the  edge  of  a  clean  roof; -no  soot  or  dirt  had  been  thrown  on  the 
snow,  but  it  was  just  as  pure  and  white  as  it  came  down,  from  the  clouds 
above. 

Now  if  some  one  had  smeared  the  roof  with  mud  or  thrown  dirt  and 
soot  among  the  snow,  }-ou  don't  suppose  you  would  have  found  this  clear, 
sparkling  crystal  hanging  there,  do  you?  No,  of  course  you  do  not,  but  in- 
stead there  would  have  been  an  ugly,  dirty,  ill-formed  thing,  so  offensive 
to  your  eyes  that  you  would  want  to  knock  it  down  and  break  it  to  pieces 
to  get  it  out  of  sight. 

Now  you  are  forming  every  day,  just  like  the  icicle  as  it  were;  every  im- 
pression made  is  the  drop  of  water  trickling  down  to  the  eave,  received 
through  the  ear  or  the  eye,  and  makes  its  lodgment  on  the  heart.  Every 
thought,  every  word  spoken,  each  adds  a  drop.  Every  good  act 
makes  a  pure  drop  for  the  crystal.  Every  time  you  make  some  one 
else  happy  by  doing  good,  starts  a  pure  drop  running  dovAti.  Every  time 
you  ask  the  Saviour  to  help  you  to  be  good,  he  will  warm  the  snow  and 
start  the  drops  going  down,  until  growing  hour  by  hour  and  day  by  day,  you 
shall  enlarge  into  the  full  beauty  of  Christian  perfection,  reflecting  rays 
from  the  sun  of  righteousness  to  gladden  all  whO'  look  upon  you. 

Now  if  you  would  crystallize  into  such  completeness,  you  must  keep  a 
clean  roof  over  you.  Be  careful  you  allow  no  nuid  or  dirt  to  remain  to  be 
covered  in  the  \Ainter  of  your  life. 

In  other  words,  shun  evil;   go  not  in  the  way  of  bad  people;   brush  away 


48o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

every  evil  word  spoken,  and  if  you  find  your  little  friends  allowing  their 
roof  to  grow  dirty,  help  them  clean  it. 

That  will  ])C  doing  good,  and  will  add  a  pure  drop  to  your  own  crystal. 


GEORGE  B.  LANGLEY. 


The  business  interests  of  Millville  have  a  worthy  representative  in  George 
B.  Langley,  who  is  prominently  connected  with  the  industrial  and  com- 
mercial afifairs  of  the  city  as  the  proprietor  of  a  large  flouring-mill  and  also 
of  a  flour  and  feed  store.  The  energy  and  close  application  which  have  char- 
acterized his  Ijusiness  affairs  have  made  him  very  successful  in  his  chosen 
calling,  and  he  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  a  very  comfortable  income  which 
has  come  to  him  as  the  reward  of  his  own  efforts.  His  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  southern  New  Jersey,  for  he  was  born  in  Salem  county,  on  the 
20th  of  October,  1842.  The  family  is  of  English  descent  and  of  (Juaker 
stock.  John  Langley,  the  direct  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  review, 
took  up  his  abode  in  Cumberland  county,  at  what  is  now  known  as  Langley 
Fields,  on  the  road  between  Millville  and  Bridgeton.  He  cleared  and  de- 
veloped that  property  and  subsequently  removed  to  a  farm  near  Centerton, 
where  he  had  extensive  realty  holdings.  He  was  very  successful  in  his 
business  ventures  and  left  to  his  family  a  small  estate.  In  the  neighborhood 
he  was  accounted  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  citizens,  and 
his  name  was  interwoven  with  many  events  of  public  importance.  He  had 
a  large  family.  Richard  Langley,  the  second  son  of  John  Langley,  became 
the  father  of  our  subject.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  and  the  grandmother  passed  away  in  1849,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years. 

Richard  Langley.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Langley  Fields, 
Cumberland  county,  in  1815,  and  acquired  a  district-school  education.  In 
early  life  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Centerton,  Salem  county,  upon  the 
old  family  homestead,  and  in  that  neighborhood  he  continued  to  make  his 
hom.e  until  called  to  his  final  rest.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  business 
career  he  engaged  in  the  operation  of  a  flouring-mill  at  Willow  Grove,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  was  also  the  owner  of  three  farms  and  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs  was  very  successful,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  retire  to  private 
life  eight  years  prior  to  his  demise.  His  political  support  was  given  to  the 
Democracy,  and  he  was  a  stanch  advocate  of  temperance  principles  and  be- 
longed to  the  organization  known  as  the  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  held 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Willow  Grove  and  was 


CONJRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  4S1 

a  local  preacher  of  that  denomination.  He  married  Keturah  Garrison,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  but  his  widow 
is  still  living,  having  now  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  seven  children:  George  R.,  of  this 
sketch;  Hannah  Jane,  the  wife  of  David  Hitchner,  a  farmer  of  Salem  county; 
Joel,  who  married  Sarah  Cramer,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Albert, 
Russell,  Lena,  Achsah  and  George;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Mulford  Haines,  of 
Saratoga,  Wyoming,  the  proprietor  of  large  sheep  ranches  in  the  west; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Robert  Christy,  a  miller;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Ephraim 
Harris,  a  dairyman;  and  Jemimah,  the  wife  of  John  Collins. 

George  B.  Langley  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Mill- 
ville,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  during  which 
time  he  became  somewhat  familiar  with  the  milling  business,  for  his  father 
was  carrying  on  that  industry,  and  after  putting  aside  his  text-books  he  be- 
came his  father's  assistant  and  at  a  later  date  began  milling  on  his  own 
account.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  succeeded  to  the  owner- 
ship of  the  flour  mills  at  Millville,  and  when  they  were  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1870  he  replaced  them  with  a  well-equipped  plant  at  the  corner  of  Sharp  and 
Canal  streets.  His  present  mill  is  supplied  with  all  the  latest  improved 
machinery  and  has  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day,  and 
two  hundred  barrels  of  meal.  He  does  considerable  grinding  for  the  local 
trade  and  also  ships  his  products  extensively  throughout  the  southern 
portion  of  the  state.  In  this  way  he  consumes  one  hundred  and  fifty  thous- 
and bushels  of  grain  annually,  doing  the  largest  milling  business  south  of 
Camden.  His  shipments  are  not  only  made  by  steam  transportation,  for 
five  wagons  carry  his  products  through  the  surrounding  country,  where  he 
has  an  extensive  patronage.  He  also-  supplies  the  local  demand  through 
a  flour  and  feed  store,  which  he  conducts  on  Main  street  in  Millville. 

In  all  his  business  undertakings  Mr.  Langley  has  been  very  successful 
and  his  efforts  have  extended  to  many  lines  where  his  counsels  and  labors 
have  been  very  effective  in  securing  profitable  returns  on  investments.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trade,  is  the  vice-president  of  the  Cumberland 
Trust  Company,  of  Bridgeton,  the  president  of  the  Millville  Stock  Building 
Association,  a  director  of  the  Millville  National  Bank,  which  is  capitalized 
for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  a  director  of  the  Ocean  City  Association, 
and  treasurer  of  the  Niagara  Mining  and  Smelting  Company  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  with  ofifices  at  Philadelphia.  These  varied  interests  indicate  his 
marked  business  ability  and  add  materially  to  his  income. 

During  the  civil  war  Mr.  Langley  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the  govern- 
ment by  enlisting  in  the  Twenty-fourth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  in  1863,  for 

II— EE 


482  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

nine  months.  Tlie  regiment  was  marched  to  Maryland  and  he  was  taken 
sick  at  Fredericksburg-,  which  caused  him  to  be  sent  home.  Soon  afterward 
he  married  Jane  A.,  daughter  of  Hiram  Studams,  a  sea  captain  of  Maurice- 
town,  New  Jersey,  liis  marriage  taking  place  on  the  27th  of  January.  1864, 
and  they  now  have  two  children. — Edgar  and  Jennie  Bertha.  Mr.  Langley 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  lie  strongly 
endorses  the  temperance  work  and  all  movements  and  measures  which 
tend  to  benefit  mankind.  In  1874  he  represented  his  district  in  the  legis- 
lature, has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders  and  was  the  president 
of  the  council  for  sixteen  years.  In  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties  he 
has  manifested  the  utmost  loyalty  lo  jirinciple,  and  his  efforts  have  been 
productive  of  advancement  along  many  lines  of  reform  and  progress.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  belonging  to  both 
lodge  and  encampment,  and  his  life  is  consistent  with  his  belief  and  support 
of  all  that  is  true  and  right.  His  reliability  is  above  question,  and  his  suc- 
cess has  resulted  from  honorable  dealing  as  well  as  from  indefatigable  energy, 
and  he  is  worthy  of  the  unqualified  regard  of  his  fellow  men. 


JOHN  PIERSOX. 


In  Swedesboro  not  to  know  John  Pierson  is  to  argue  oneself  unknown. 
He  is  the  oldest  living  resident  of  the  city  and  his  acquaintance  embraces 
nearly  the  entire  population  of  the  place.  Almost  a  century  has  passed 
since  he  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day.  a  century  fraught  with  mighty 
achievements  and  wonderful  results. 

He  was  bom  November  13,  1805,  in  what  is  now  South  Swedesboro, 
then  called  Battontown.  a  son  of  John  and  ^Margaret  (Thompson)  Pierson. 
The  father  also  was  a  native  of  the  same  place  and  was  a  son  of  Zebulon 
Pierson,  of  South  Sweilesboro.  The  three  generations  mentioned  all  fol- 
lowed blacksmithing  in  the  town.  The  subject  of  this  review  has  lived  in  his 
present  home  since  1837.  a  period  of  more  than  six  decades.  There  is  not 
a  householder  in  the  town  that  owned  property  here  when  he  came  into 
possession  of  his  present  home,  and  his  property  is  the  only  piece  that  has 
not  changed  hands  throughout  this  long  period  with  the  exception  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Pierson  conducted  a  blacksmithing  shop  until  1852. 
when  he  began  building  bridges  and  for  some  time  was  thus  connected 
with  the  industrial  interests  of  this  section  of  the  state.  For  many  years 
he  figured  conspicuously  in  connection  with  public  affairs  and  held  a  number 
of  public  offices.     In  1844  he  was  elected  a  freeholder  for  a  five  years'  temi, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OP   NEW   JERSEY.  483 

and  in  1854  was  again  elected  to  tliat  olfice  for  a  similar  period.  In  i860 
he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  senate,  and  in  1872  was 
once  more  elected  freeholder,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  thirty-five 
years,  discharging  his  duties  with  marked  promptness  and  fidelity.  In  ])oli- 
tics  he  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  ])arty,  and  has 
labored  earnestly  and  effectively  in  the  interests  of  the  party. 

In  1828  Mr.  Pierson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  H.  Leap, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Leap.  Three  daughters  were  born  to  them, — Fran- 
cis, Sarah  and  Margaret.  The  last  named  became  the  wife  of  John  Taggart 
and  had  three  children,  of  whom  but  one  is  living, — Ella, — who  acts  as  the 
housekeeper  for  her  grandfather.  Mrs.  Pierson  died  in  1834  and  J\Ir.  I'ierson 
has  never  married  again.  He  has  ahvays  resided  in  Swedesboro  and  by  an 
upright  life  has  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all.  He  became 
a  charter  member  of  Osceola  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also  belongs  to  Siloam 
Lodge,  No.  67,  K.  P.,  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
His  has  been  a  long,  useful  and  honorable  career,  and  the  respect  and  vener- 
ation accorded  him  are  justly  merited. 


D.    HARRIS   SMITH. 


Mr.  Smith  is  a  representative  of_tWO  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of 
eastern  New  Jersey.  His  father,  Simon  B.  Smith,  was  born  July  31,  1828, 
and  was  a  son  of  Henry  Ogden  Smith.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  James  Smith, 
who  was  of  English  descent  and  married  Deborah  Ogden  on  the  30th  of 
April,  1799.  They  both  resided  in  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  prior 
to  their  marriage.  The  lady  was  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Ogden,  the 
founder  of  the  Ogden  family  in  America.  James  Smith  died  February  i, 
1810.  By  his  marriage  to  Deborah  Ogden  he  had  four  children:  Sally 
Stratton,  who  was  born  March  22,  1800,  and  died  on  the  nth  of  August 
of  the  same  year;  Henry  O.,  who  was  born  September  20,  1802,  and  died  in 
1843;  Josiah,  who  was  born  April  6,  1807,  and  died  on  the  6th  of  October 
of  the  same  year;  and  Sally  Stratton,  who  was  the  second  of  the  name  was 
born  September  23,  1808,  her  death  occurring  April  8,  1813.  The  mother  of 
these  children,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  became  the  wife  of 
Reuben  Cheesman,  on  the  8th  of  May,  181 1.  They  had  one  daughter, 
Deborah  Ogden,  who  was  born  January  31,  1812,  and  died  on  the  17th  of 
October  following. 

Henry  O.  Smith,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  married  Rebecca  Ben- 
ner,  who  was  of  German  lineage.     The  wedding  was  celebrated  March  4, 


484  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

1826.  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children:  James  B.,  born  De- 
cember 8,  1826;  and  Simon  B.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Henry  Smith 
wedded  Jane  Jones,  on  the  8th  of  December,  1831,  and  they  had  one  son 
and  one  daughter,  namely:  Georgianna  A.,  who  was  born  October  10,  1836; 
and  Robert  P.,  born  July  21,  1838. 

Simon  B.  Smith,  our  subject's  father,  spent  his  entire  life  in  New  Jersey. 
February  7,  1856,  he  married  Esther  A.  Harris,  a  daughter  of  David  Harris, 
of  Salem  county.  Her  grandfather  also  bore  the  name  of  David  Harris  and 
was  descended  from  English  ancestors  who  came  to  the  New  World  at  a 
very  early  period  in  its  development.  David  Harris,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith, 
married  Mary  Ann  Ernest,  a  daughter  of  John  Ernest,  who  was  of  German 
lineage.  Their  marriage  occurred  October  i,  1829.  The  following  are  their 
issue:  John  E.,  born  July  10,  1830;  Mary  Ann,  February  22,  1832;  David, 
February  2,  1834;  Hester  Ann,  May  22,  1836;  Josiah  Smith,  March  20,  1838; 
Abel.  October  28,  1839;  Edward  Keasbey,  November  28,  1844;  Smith  Bacon, 
March  7,  1847;  and  George  Henry,  February  24,  1849. 


LATIMER   R.    BAKER. 


More  enduring;  than  any  monument  oi  brass  or  stone  is  a  beautiful  citv 
that  through  many  centuries  fnay  extend  its  influence  over  the  social,  com- 
mercial, and  moral  life  of  a  community,  and  the  man  who  founds  such  a  city 
may  well  be  termed  one  of  the  benefactors  of  the  place.  Along  the  entire 
Atlantic  coast  there  is  perhaps  no  more  beautiful  spot  than  Wildwood  by 
the  Sea.  of  which  the  subject  of  this  review  was  one  of  the  founders.  Nature 
has  here  offered  everv'  attraction,  and,  improved  by  the  artistic  taste  of  Mr. 
Baker,  its  beauties  far  exceed  those  of  many  of  the  older  summer  resorts. 
Towering  trees,  little  inland  lakes,  flowers  of  every  hue  and  variety,  magnifi- 
cent beach  and  the  grand  old  ocean  add  to  the  charm  and  attractiveness  of 
the  scene. 

In  developing  W'ikhvood,  Mr.  Baker  has  performed  in  a  very  short  time 
what  seems  almost  an  incredible  task,  but  his  great  energy,  resolute  purpose 
and  undaunted  perseverance  have  enabled  him  there  to  build  a  town  that  is 
indeed  a  monument  to  him.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  (Pontius) 
Baker,  and  was  educated  in  the  New  Berlin  Seminary,  of  Union  county. 
Pennsylvania.  After  leaving  school  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  subsequently 
carried  on  mercantile  business,  and  with  his  brother  Phillip  estabhshed  a 
store  in  Vineland,  New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  for  fifteen  years  as  a 


^*^^2^^^^5?^^^^    y^Cy^     .y^Si^^'^fe^ 


5 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  485 

"member  of  the  firm  of  Baker  Brothers,  a  connection  that  continued  until 
1884,  when  they  purchased  an  interest  in  a  tract  of  land, — the  present  site  of 
Holly  Beach.  Until  1888  he  devoted  his  energies  to  the  development  of 
that  place,  and  then  withdrew  and  associated  himself  with  the  Wildwood 
Beach  Company,  of  which  he  was  elected  the  treasurer.  Two  hundred  acres 
of  land  were  purchased,  then  a  tract  of  woods  and  sand  hills.  Beautiful 
homes  of  all  styles  of  architecture  have  been  erected  in  various  parts  of  this 
resort,  and  the  landscape  gardener  has  supplemented  nature  in  its  efforts 
to  make  this  one  of  the  most  delightful  resorts  on  the  Atlantic.  The  woods 
present  many  remarkable  curiosities  in  the  shape  of  the  trees,  many  of  which 
have  taken  upon  themselves  extremely  unique  and  w^eird  forms,  as  though 
their  growth  was  guided  by  some  fanciful  and  grotesque  mind.  Flowers 
grow  here  in  the  greatest  profusion,  and  it  is  claimed  by  many  of  the  visitors 
that  their  variety  and  fragrance  excel  those  to  be  found  in  any  other  place 
in  this  country.  Many  botanists  come  here  to  study  plant  life,  and  artists 
transfer  the  beautiful  tints  to  canvas.  A  splendid  beach  furnishes  every  at- 
traction to  the  lover  of  surf  bathing,  the  long  stretch  of  hard  sand  gradually 
sloping  outward,  thus  providing  a  place  of  absolute  safety  for  those  who 
enjoy  aquatic  sports.  There  are  also  beautiful  inland  lakes  and  wooded 
drives  and  the  place  is  indeed  ideal.  The  attractions  and  amusements  which 
are  the  inventions  of  man  are  not  wanting,  there  being  a  fine  pier,  merry-go- 
rounds,  dancing  halls,  shufHe-boards,  shooting  galleries  and  a  fine  casino  hall. 
An  auditorium  is  also  provided  for  the  accommodation  of  religious  bodies 
who  visit  Wildwood  by  the  Sea.  There  is  a  perfect  system  of  water-works 
erected  at  a  cost  of  forty  thousand  dollars,  the  water  being  supplied  by  two 
artesian  wells.  There  is  also  a  perfect  sewerage  system,  a  well  equipped  fire 
department,  and  electric-light  system,  and  since  1894  there  has  been  a  com- 
plete and  smoothly  conducted  borough  organized. 

To.  Mr.  Baker  is  largely  due  the  growth  and  development  of  this  place, 
as  he  has  ser\'ed  as  the  mayor  for  the  past  five  years  and  recently  has  been 
re-elected,  he  has  put  forth  every  effort  to  promote  the  interests  and  add 
to  the  attractiveness  of  the  town.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  religioush'  he  is  connected  with  the  Swedenborgian  church.  In 
1878  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eloise  Johnson,  of  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  and  to  them  was  born  a  son,  Lester  Everett,  who  is  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Baker  is  a  man  of  marked  enterprise  and  executive  ability,  who  carries 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever  he  undertakes.  Wildwood  by 
the  Sea  has  already  become  a  beautiful  town  of  several  hundred  homes,  and 
under  his  guidance  it  is  destined  to  take  rank  with  the  best  known  and  most 
popular  sea-side  resorts. 


486  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

WILDER   H.    WASHBURN. 

The  town  of  Wildwood  largely  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  skill  and 
enterprise  of  this  gentleman,  a  leading  contractor  who  in  the  active  affairs 
of  life  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  occupies  a  position  of 
afifluence, — the  result  of  his  own  well  directed  efforts.  Of  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  New  England  families  he  is  a  representative,  his  ancestors 
having  come  to  the  shores  of  the  New  World  on  the  Mayflower.  Joseph 
Washburn,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  resident  of  Minot,  Maine, 
where  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  contracting  and  build- 
ing. He  was  very  successful  in  that  line  of  work  and  also  in  farming,  which 
he  followed  to  some  extent.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  served  his  country  by 
building  fortifications  and  block-houses.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Democratic  party.  He  married  Miss  Mary  N.-  Noyes,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  children,  Daniel,  Mary  and  James.  Both  he  and  his  wife  died 
when  eighty-four  years  of  age. 

Daniel  Washburn,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Minot,  Maine, 
in  1815,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  took  many  contracts  for  the  erec- 
tion of  buildings.  He  also  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Vineland,  New 
Jersey,  where  he  resided  for  thirty  years.  He  held  a  number  of  local  offices, 
including  that  of  township  committeeman,  and  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  Democracy.  He  married  Miss  Louisa  Francis,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Joseph  Henry,  who  served  in  the 
civil  war  and  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  army.  Mary  Frances,  the 
wife  of  Hon.  F.  Burgoyne,  a  druggist,  by  whom  she  has  three  children, — 
Ella,  Eva  L.  and  Genie;  Helen,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Imo- 
gene,  who  married  a  man  named  Osgood,  a  salesman;  and  the  youngest  is 
Wilber  H.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  married  Jane  Harris, 
and  when  she,  too,  had  passed  away,  he  wedded  Hannah  Beam. 

Wilber  H.  Washburn  is  a  native  of  Maine,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Bradford,  in  the  Pine  Tree  state,  November  15,  1858.  During  his  early 
boyhood  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Vineland,  New 
Jersey,  where  he  pursued  the  studies  embraced  in  a  common  English  course. 
He  then  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  of  his  father,  and  worked  with  him 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  a  shoe  factory,  wdiere  he 
remained  four  years.  He  was  afterward  engaged  in  contracting  on  his  own 
account  at  Vineland,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to  Wildwood  in 
1889.  The  growth  of  this  beautiful  place  has  been  very  rapid,  and  to  Mr. 
Washburn  has  been  apportioned  a  large  part  of  the  building  business.  He 
took  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  Marine  Hall,  for  many  of  the  cottages 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  487 

and  hotels  and  for  the  Baptist  church.  He  furnishes  employment  to  thirty 
men,  and  receives  a  very  liberal  patronage,  for  he  faithfully  fulfills  his  part  of  a 
contract,  is  prompt  and  reliable,  and  in  all  his  dealings  is  strictly  honorable. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1878,  Wilber  H.  Washburn  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Rosanna  Mole,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Mole,  who  was  born  in  Aspen, 
Berkshire,  England.  Coming  to  the  United  States,  he  is  now  a  resident  of 
Vineland,  New-  Jersey,  where  he  follows  carpentering.  Mrs.  Washburn  is 
one  of  a  family  of  four  children,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  five  children:  Elizabeth  Frances,  Anna,  Eva  Louise,  Lena  May 
and  Rosalie. 

Mr.  Washburn  votes  for  the  measures  of  the  Democracy,  has  served  as 
assessor  of  Wild  wood,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  common  council  for 
two  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  state  militia  for  five 
years  and  at  all  times  is  a  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen  who  does  all  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  community  along  the  lines  of  progress 
and  substantial  advancement. 


CHARLES   P.    ELDREDGE. 

Charles  P.  Eldredge,  who  for  many  years  has  been  a  pilot  on  the  Dela- 
virare  river,  was  born  in  Cape  May,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of 
WiUiam  C.  and  Abigail  (Schillinger)  Eldredge.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Enoch  Eldredge,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  for  many  years 
resided  in  what  is  now  West  Cape  May,  where  his  death  occurred.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Charles  Schillinger,  was  born  September  24,  1792, 
was  reared  on  Cape  Island,  became  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware  river  and  resided 
in  the  city  of  Cape  May,  where  he  died  of  yellow  fever,  his  death  occurring 
July  9,  1823.  He  had  three  children, — EHzabeth,  the  wife  of  Albert  Hughes; 
Enos,  and  Abigail,  the  mother  of  our  subject. 

William  C.  Eldredge,  the  father,  was  born  in  Cape  May  August  16, 
1820,  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  resided  in  the  place 
of  his  nativity  until  1897,  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  is  now 
living  retired.  His  wife,  who  was  born  September  5,  1820,  passed  away  on 
the  26th  of  March,  1872.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  among 
them  Henry  H.,  Enoch  and  Charles.  The  father  was  a  pilot  on  the  Dela- 
ware river  for  many  years  and  belonged  to  the  Pilots'  Society.  He  also  held 
a  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  his  political  faith  was  a 
Democrat. 

To  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  Charles  P.  Eldredge  is  indebted 


488  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

for  tlie  educational  privileges  which  he  received.  At  the  age  of  sixteen, 
however,  he  put  aside  his  text-books  and  became  an  apprentice  on  a  pilot 
boat,  his  term  of  service  covering  a  period  of  six  years.  It  requires  great 
care,  closer  application  and  longer  time  to  master  the  duties  of  the  pilot 
than  to  learn  any  of  the  mechanical  trades  to  which  men  devote  their  ener- 
gies, for  not  only  must  the  pilot  know  how  to  manage  the  vessels  but  also 
must  be  so  familiar  with  the  river  that  he  can  tell  the  exact  situation  by  the 
objects  along  the  shore  and  by  the  river  bed,  whose  winding  course  he  can 
easily  follow,  knowing  its  depths  and  its  shallows,  its  treacherous  places  and 
its  course  of  safety.  Such  a  knowledge  has  Mr.  Bennett.  He  received  the 
second-class  license,  together  with  eighteen  men  who  passed  the  examination 
for  full  pilots,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  guiding  the  mighty  vessels 
engaged  in  the  traffic  of  this  section  of  the  country. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1881,  Mr.  Eldredge  was  married  to  Miss  Julia 
Cresse,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Gregory)  Cresse.  They  now 
have  three  children:  Lorena  C,  \Mnfield  Scott  and  EUzabeth  C.  David 
Cresse,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Eldredge,  was  born  at  Cape  May,  December 
19,  1799,  and  died  October  18,  1849,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  miller  and  resided  at  Cold  Spring.  In  his  business  dealings  he 
was  quite  successful,  acquiring  a  valuable  property.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  his  religious  belief  was  a  Methodist.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Learning,  who  was  born  August  4,  1806,  and 
died  February  28,  1875,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  Their  children  were 
Joseph  L.,the  father  of  Mrs. Eldredge;  William, who  was  three  times  married; 
Jane,  the  wife  of  James  Crowell;  Hannah,  the  widow  of  Clement  Reeves; 
Anthony,  a  farmer  who  served  for  nine  months  in  a  New  Jersey  regiment  in 
the  civil  war  and  married  Elizabeth  M.  Reeves;  Ella,  the  wife  of  Clinton 
Hand;  and  Julia,  deceased.  Joseph  L.  Cresse  was  born  June  18,  1831,  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  and  became  a  farmer  of  Cold  Spring.  He 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  entire  life  and  also  was  con- 
nected with  the  fishing  interests  of  this  section  of  the  state.  By  his  ballot  he 
advocated  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Gregory,  a  daughter  of  William  Gregory,  who  was  born  in  New  York  city, 
January  17,  1803.  He  removed  to  Cape  May,  where  he  died  April  20,  1883, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  but  conducted 
a  hotel  at  Cold  Spring  and  also  engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  rich  tract 
of  land  near  that  place.  His  political  support  was  given  the  Democracy, 
and  in  his  social  relations  he  was  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  married  Miss  Van 
Kirk,  who  was  bom  July  24,  1804,  and  died  July  28,  1884.  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.     His  children  were  William,  Silas,  Elizabeth,  Douglas,  Sallie, 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  489 

Josephine,  Mary  Jane  and  Kate.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Cresse 
are  Milton  and  Julia.  The  daughter  is  the  estimable  wife  of  our  subject,  and 
the  son,  who  was  born  November  10,  1853,  is  a  farmer  of  Cold  Spring,  Cape 
May  county.    He  married  Hannah  Leaming. 

Mr.  Eldredge  is  a  valued  representative  of  several  civic  societies.  He 
holds  membership  in  Cape  Island  Lodge,  No.  30,  F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Order  of 
Red  Men,  the  Pilots'  Society,  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  \\'orkmen.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  his  has  been  an  active,  useful  and  honorable  life,  marked  by 
devotion  to  every  duty. 


WILLI A]M    A.    CARPENTER. 

William  A.  Carpenter,  of  Pennsville,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  is  a  son 
of  William  J.  and  Amanda  (Zane)  Carpenter  and  was  born  in  this  village 
May  8,  1857.  His  grandfather  was  ^^'illiam  Carpenter,  of  Finn's  Point,  now 
Fort  ]\Iott,  where  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  residents  and  where  he 
died.  He  had  three  children,  John,  William  F.  and  Mary,  who  married  a 
Mr.  Davis. 

\Villiam  F.  Carpenter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  about  the  year 
1826  at  Finn's  Point,  this  county,  and  was  a  fisherman  at  Pennsville,  where 
he  resided  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  Democrat  but  took  little  active 
part  in  poHtics.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Zane,  who  died  in  1869, 
after  presenting  him  with  four  children, — William  A.,  Eliza,  Emma  and  Fur- 
man  L. 

William  A.  Carpenter  attended  the  public  schools  and  then  entered  the 
stores  of  Samuel  Lecroy  and  Jones  \\'.  Powers  as  a  clerk.  In  1887  he  em- 
barked in  the  general  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account  and  has  built 
up  a  nice  patronage  of  most  desirable  customers.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
fish  business  and  manages  his  affairs  in  such  a  business-like  manner  that  it 
brings  him  a  neat  income  and  places  him  on  a  sound  financial  basis.  He  is 
a  stanch  Democrat  and  served  as  collector  of  Lower  Penn's  Neck  township 
several  terms,  leaving  the  books  and  accounts  in  a  shape  that  reflected  credit 
to  him  and  to  the  township.  He  is  interested  in  the  State  Mutual  Building 
and  Loan  Association,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  Order  of  United  Ameri- 
can Mechanics.  He  was  married  December  8,  1879,  to  Miss  Sarah  New- 
comb,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Newcomb,  a  carpenter  of  Church  Landing.  The 
name  is  an  old  and  honored  one  in  the  state,  and  none  who  bore  it  occupied 
a  more  exalted  place  in  the  estimation  of  their  fellow  men  than  does  the 
gentleman  ^hose  sketch  appears  above. 


490  nioGR.irnic.iL  historv  of  nn-  first 

HON.    Il.Win   ().   WATKINS. 

While  tho  disposition  to  do  lioiior  to  tlioso  who  Iia\c  sor\od  well  tlicir 
race  or  their  nation  is  prevalent  among;  all  enlightened  people  and  is  of 
great  value  everywhere  and  under  all  forms  of  government,  it  is  particularly 
api^ropriate  to.  and  to  he  fostered  in,  this  country,  where  no  man  is  horn  to 
public  otticc  or  to  public  honor,  or  comes  to  either  by  inheritance,  but  where 
all  men  arc  ci|ual  before  the  law.  where  the  race  for  distinction  is  over  the 
road  of  ]iublie  usefulness  and  is  open  to  every  one  who  chooses  to  enter, 
however  luuuble  anil  obscure  he  iua\'  be.  anil  where  the  advantageous  cir- 
eunistances  of  familv  and  wealth  count,  in  the  \;ist  luajoritx'  of  cases,  {ov  but 
little  or  nothing,  .\eeording  to  the  true  democratic  doctrine  they  should 
ne\-er  coimt  for  anything  at  all.  L'nder  our  systeiu,  whose  very  existence 
depends  upon  the  virtue  of  the  peojile  themselves,  who  are  not  only  the 
source  of  all  political  power  but  on  whom  also  depends  the  very  existence 
of  our  free  institutions,  those  who  lia\'e  distinguished  themselves  in  the  public 
service,  whether  in  statesmanship  or  in  arms  or  in  whatever  sphere  of  useful- 
ness, shouUl  not  fail  of  recognition;  and  this  is  not  only  in  justice  to  the 
people,  who  should  not  seem  umuiiulful  of  great  sacrifices  or  of  great  efforts 
in  their  behalf  or  of  notable  exhibitions  of  public  spirit,  but  also  in  the 
interests  if  om-  institutions  themselves.  In  honoring  those  who  have  de- 
served well  of  the  republic  the  peojile  do  cretlit  to  themseh'cs  ami  also  thus 
sujiply  a  powerful  stinuilus  to  honorable  ambition  to  incite  to  lilce  services  or 
achievements  or  sacrifices  for  the  public  good. 

Hon.  David  Ogden  W'atkins  is  one  of  the  most  proiuineut  and  distin- 
guished members  of  the  New  Jersey  bar,  and  is  now  serving  as  United  States 
district  attorney  of  this  state.  While  political  honors  have  been  conferred 
upon  him  in  recognition  of  his  marked  ability,  he  is  recognized  by  all  parties 
as  a  leader  whose  prominence  has  been  worthily  won.  He  was  born  at 
Woodbury,  June  8,  1862,  and  is  of  English  lineage.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  after  mastering  the  common  English  branches 
of  learning  devoted  his  attention  to  farm  work  during  the  summer  months. 
Wishing  to  enter  the  legal  profession,  he  studied  law  at  night  when  the  day's 
labor  was  ended,  and  in  this  way  prepared  for  the  bar,  to  which  he  was  ad- 
mitted in  November,  1893,  by  the  supreme  court.  He  was  licensed  as  a 
counselor  in  February,  1897,  and  his  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  jurisprudence  has  enabled  him  to  handle  with  comparative  ease  the 
intricate  ]iroblems  of  law  which  are  brought  up  for  settlement  in  the  courts 
of  the  state. 

His  fitness  for  leadership  has  led  to  his  selection  again  and  again  for 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  491 

public  office.  He  has  served  for  four  terms  of  one  year  eacli  as  mayor  of 
Woodbury,  filling  the  office  from  1886  until  1891.  After  this  he  served  as  a 
councilman  from  the  third  ward  of  Woodbury  from  1892  until  1895,  and 
being  re-elected  filled  that  position  until  1898.  In  March,  1895,  he  was 
chosen  the  president  of  the  city  council,  and  was  elected  to  that  position 
through  two  succeeding  years.  In  1899  and  1900  he  has  filled  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  and  has  been  counselor  to  the  board  of  freeholders  of  Glouces- 
ter county.  In  1896  he  was  elected  to  the  general  assembly  by  a  plurality 
of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two,  the  largest  ever  given  a  candi- 
date in  the  county.  In  1897  he  was  re-elected  by  a  plurality  of  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  eight,  and  in  1898  he  was  again  chosen  for  the  important 
office,  running  ahead  of  the  other  candidates  by  a  plurality  vote  of  eleven 
hundred  and  eighty-four.  During  the  session  of  1898  he  was  elected  the 
speaker  of  the  house,  the  first  person  from  Gloucester  county  ever  honored 
with  that  position.  In  1899  he  was  again  chosen  the  speaker,  presiding  with 
marked  ability  over  the  deliberations  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  assembly. 
His  excellent  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law  made  him  verv'  competent, 
and  his  fair  and  impartial  rulings  awakened  the  respect  of  his  political  op- 
ponents, as  well  as  the  admiration  of  his  political  friends.  He  became  the 
acting  governor  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey  on  the  i8th  of  October,  1899, 
that  office  having  been  held  by  the  president  of  the  senate,  Mr.  Voorhees, 
from  the  31st  of  January  until  the  date  upon  which  Mr.  Watkins  assumed 
the  charge,  the  vacancy  being  caused  by  the  resignation  of  ]\Ir.  Voorhees. 
In  accordance  with  the  regulations  made  by  the  state  constitution  Mr.  Wat- 
kins  became  the  acting  governor,  and  in  the  position  he  has  alilv  met  every 
requirement,  making  for  himself  a  most  commendable  record.  He  was 
appointed  the  United  States  attorney  for  the  state  of  New  Jersey  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  in  February,  1900.  and  the  appointment  was  immediately 
confirmed,  which  office  Mr.  Watkins  now  fills. 

A  valued  member  of  social  organizations,  Mr.  Watkins  now  belongs  to 
Woodbury  Lodge,  No.  54,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  Mariala  Lodge,  No.  9,  K.  of  P.,  in 
which  he  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs;  Florence  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  and 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Camden  Re- 
publican Club  and  the  Young  lien's  Repul)lican  Club  of  Woodbury.  By 
his  irreproachal)le  record  he  has  been  an  honor  to  the  state  which  has 
honored  him.  While  undoubtedly  he  has  not  been  without  the  laudable 
ambition  which  is  so  powerful  and  useful  as  an  incentive  to  activity  in  public 
affairs,  he  has  subordinated  personal  ambition  to  public  good  and  has  sought 
rather  the  benefit  of  his  state  and  his  fellow  men  than  aggrandizement  of 
self. 


492  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

HENRY   ALLEN. 

For  more  tlian  tliirty-five  years  Henry  Allen  was  numbered  among  the 
leading  representatives  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Gloucester  county, 
and  by  the  exercise  of  his  business  ability,  by  unflagging  industry  and  careful 
management,  he  secured  a  handsome  competence  which  classed  him  among 
the  wealthy  citizens  of  this  community.  His  many  excellencies  of  character 
also  gained  for  him  the  high  regard  of  his  friends  and  all  Avho  knew  him 
mourned  his  death. 

Henry  Allen  was  born  in  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  on  the  nth  of 
August,  1820,  and  was  a  son  of  Hemy  and  Ann  (Rogers)  Allen.  The  former 
was  born  July  19,  1789,  and  died  December  27,  1870,  while  the  latter  was 
born  August  24,  1790,  and  died  February  21,  1868.  They  were  married  on 
the  2ist  of  January,  1813,  and  became  the  parents  of  six  children:  ^Michael, 
the  eldest,  was  born  November  12,  1813,  and  resided  in  Lexington,  Missouri, 
but  February  6,  1873,  died  while  on  a  business  trip  in  the  east;  Margaret, 
born  February  25,  1816,  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Engle,  of  Camden,  New 
Jersey,  and  died  December  5,  1868;  Maria,  born  May  27,  1818,  became  the 
wife  of  James  Thompson,  their  home  being  between  Auburn  and  Sharp- 
town,  and  her  death  occurred  March  14,  1884;  Henry  was  the  next  of  the 
family;  Joseph  R.,  born  October  29,  1822,  died  near  Woodstown,  New  Jer- 
sey; and  Jehu,  born  April  18,  1825,  died  in  Woodstown. 

Henry  Allen,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  remained  in  Salem 
county  until  about  1840,  when  he  removed  to  Gibbstown,  Gloucester  county. 
He  was  married  on  the  24th  of  February,  1842,  to  Miss  Catheinne  Fish,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  Fish,  of  Repaupo,  New  Jersey.  Her  death  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1869,  when  she  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years.  Eight 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Ann,  the  deceased  wife  of  Ed- 
ward G.  Green,  of  Gibbstown,  New  Jersey;  Maria  F.,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Salisbury,  of  Swedesboro;  Isaac,  a  farmer  of  Paulsboro;  Joseph,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Eli,  who  died  in  Gibbstown,  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years;  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Amos  G.  Hurf,  of  Swedesboro;  Veronica,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Weatherby,  of  Millville,  New  Jersey;  and  Kate,  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Cozens,  of  Swedesboro. 

Throughout  his  residence  in  Gloucester  county  Mr.  Allen  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  and  a  glance  indicated  to  the  passers  by  the  careful 
supervision  which  he  bestowed  upon  his  place.  He  followed  practical  and 
progressive  methods,  understood  the  rotation  of  crops,  knew  what  kind  of 
soil  was  needed  for  the  different  cereals  and  so  conducted  his  farming  interests 
that  he  secured  therefrom  a  handsome  financial  return  that  made  him  one  of 


/Ptl-c^^^^-- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  493 

the  wealthy  men  of  Gloucester  county.  He  was  at  all  times  honorable  and 
upright  in  his  dealings  and  just  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men,  very 
loyal  to  his  friends,  and  such  qualities  gained  lor  him  the  warm  regard  of  all 
who  knew  him,  and  in  his  death  the  community  mourned  the  loss  of  one  of 
its  most  valued  citizens. 


WILLIAM   PLUMMER. 

I 

William  Plummer,  ex-surrogate  and  ex-judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas  of  Salem  county  and  a  prominent  business  man  of  the  city  of  Salem, 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Keasbey)  Plummer,  his  liirth  having  oc- 
curred in  Lower  Alloway's  Creek  township,  Salem  county,  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1818.  He  is  remarkably  well  preserved,  and  the  aljility  displayed 
by  him  in  managing  his  varied  business  interests  shows  him  to  be  the  peer 
of  any  of  the  younger  generation,  although  he  has  passed  the  eightieth  mile- 
stone of  life's  journey. 

His  father,  William  Plummer,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer  in  Lower  Alloway's  Creek 
township  and  also  conducted  a  general  country  store  in  Canton.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  Democrat  and  held  various  local  offices.  He  was  the 
captain  of  a  military  company  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  services 
as  an  auctioneer  were  also  in  considerable  demand,  for  he  was  regarded  as 
one  of  the  best  auctioneers  of  his  time  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Twice 
married,  his  first  union  was  with  Elizabeth  Keasbey,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  William,  whose  name  introduces  this  review;  Edward, 
who  followed  farming  in  Salem  county  and  who  married  Sarah  Fogg  and  is 
now  deceased;  Jeanette,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Elizabeth,  the 
widow  of  Isaac  Allen,  who  followed  farming  near  Salem,  and  by  whom  she 
had  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters — David,  a  farmer  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Robinson;  Thompson,  who  resides  in  Ouinton;  Sarah,  who  lives 
with  her  mother  in  Salem;  and  Charlesanna,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hancock,  of 
Dover,  Delaware;  Craig,  who  died  in  childhood;  Charles,  who  married  Ann 
Eliza  Miller  and  is  now  deceased;  and  Sarah,  who  died  in  childhood.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  of  these  children  married  Mrs.  Rachel 
McWilliams.  They  had  three  children:  Emily,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Jeanetta,  who  married  Belford  Elwell ;  and  Amy,  who  also  died  in  childhood. 

Wihiam  Plummer,  of  this  review,  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township,  and  during  the  periods  of  vacation  engaged 
in  clerking  in  his  father's  store  in  Canton.  On  arriving  at  man's  estate  he 
was  married,  and  about  the  same  time  entered  into  partnership  with  Joseph 


494  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

A.  Hancock  in  the  conduct  of  a  mercantile  establishment  in  Canton.  After 
two  years  spent  at  that  place  Mr.  Pliimmer  removed  to  Hancock's  Bridge, 
where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  for  four  years  in  connection  with  Josiah 
Thompson  and  afterward  with  William  Morrison.  Later  he  returned  to 
Canton,  where  he  carried  on  a  general  store  for  about  seven  or  eight  years, 
and  during  the  same  period  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to  farming. 

In  the  year  1857  he  was  elected  the  surrogate  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  the  following  year  removed  to  Salem,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He 
served  for  five  years  in  the  office  of  surrogate,  and  on  his  retirement  from 
that  position  purchased  the  property  along  the  wharf,  and,  in  connection 
with  William  A.  Casper  and  Charles  S.  Lawson,  conducted  an  extensive  busi- 
ness in  buying  and  selling  hay,  grain  and  seeds.  After  three  years  Mr.  Law- 
son  withdrew  from  the  firm,  but  the  firm  of  Plummer  &  Casper  continued 
operations  for  a  short  time  thereafter.  Another  change  then  occurred,  Mr. 
Casper  retiring,  while  John  S.  Newell  and  Richard  Grier  became  members  of 
the  firm.  That  connection  was  maintained  for  several  years,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Plummer  has  been  alone.  He  has  carried  on  a  profitable  business 
and  is  widely  known  for  his  reliability  and  straightforward  methods,  his  dili- 
gence and  energ}-. 

In  1839  Mr.  Plummer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  Carll,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  ex-Judge  Ephraim  Carll.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them,  namely:  Elizabeth  K.,  the  deceased  wife  of  George  Hires;  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  George  R.  Morrison,  who  was  the  surrogate  of  the  county  for  more 
than  twenty  years;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Patterson,  the  editor  of 
the  Woodstown  Monitor-Register;  William  and  Loren  Pease.  For  several 
years  William  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hires  &  Company,  glass 
manufacturers  at  Ouinton,  while  Loren  is  the  present  surrogate  of  the 
county,  having  been  elected  to  that  oftice  in  1897  by  a  large  popular  majority. 
Mrs.  Plummer  died  in  December,  1881.  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  and 
was  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  who  esteemed  her  highly  on 
account  of  her  many  excellencies  of  character. 

Mr.  Plummer  has  been  identified  with  a  number  of  local  enterprises  which 
have  been  of  substantial  benefit  to  the  city  and  is  one  of  Salem's  most  popu- 
lar residents.  He  is  the  president  of  the  Salem  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  which  he  has  also  long  been  a  director,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  Salem,  acting  as  its  treasurer  for  many  years.  He  also 
held  different  township  offices  and  was  a  freeholder  when  the  present  clerk's 
and  surrogate's  offices  were  erected.  He  was  also  the  judge  on  the  common- 
pleas  bench  of  the  county  court  for  eighteen  years.  A  loyal  adherent  of 
Masonry,  he  is  a  member  of  Excelsior  Lodge,  of  Salem.     He  is  probably 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  495 

best  known,  however,  in  connection  with  the  politics  of  Salem  county,  where 
he  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  active  workers  and  most  astute 
leaders  of  the  Democracy  of  the  county.  His  opinions  have  long  carried 
great  weight  in  the  councils  of  his  party  and  led  to  its  success  in  many  a 
doubtful  campaign.  Still  active  in  business,  his  record  should  put  to  shame 
many  a  man  of  much  younger  years  who,  grown  weary  of  the  toils  and  strug- 
gles of  life,  would  relegate  to  others  the  burdens  which  he  should  bear. 


WILLIAM   PLUMMER.  JR. 

William  Plummer,  Jr.,  is  a  native  of  Canton,  Salem  county,  and  a  son  of 
William  and  Rebecca  (Carll)  Plummer.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Quinton 
for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  and  by  his  industry  and  good  common  sense 
has  risen  to  an  enviable  place  in  the  business  world,  while  his  future  career  is 
bright  with  promise.  His  father,  whose  sketch  appears  aliove,  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  business  abihty  and  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
various  business  and  political  interests  of  Salem  and  Salem  county,  so  that 
the  name  is  a  familiar  one  to  the  citizens  who  hold  it  in  high  esteem. 

William  Plummer,  Jr.,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Salem 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  went  to  Quinton  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Hires 
&  Brother,  glass-manufacturers  of  that  place.  He  was  industrious  and  faith- 
ful to  the  interests  of  his  employers  and  soon  worked  his  way  up  to  the 
position  of  shipping  clerk  and  later  as  a  member  of  the  firm,  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  management  of  the  business.  The  glass  factory  of  Hires  &  Com- 
pany is  among  the  largest  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey  and  employs  a  large 
number  of  people,  making  a  specialty  of  window  glass  and  in  connection 
conducting  a  store  which  employs  about  ten  clerks,  in  which  they  sell  coal, 
grain,  fertilizers,  etc.  Mr.  Plummer  is  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  the  Hires- 
Turner  Glass  Company,  located  at  626  Arch  street,  Philadelphia,  opened  in 
1877.  The  factory  was  established  in  1863  and  does  a  large  business.  Mr. 
Plummer  is  a  director  and  assistant  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Philadel- 
phia branch,  and  the  firm  is  composed  of  good  business  men,  consisting  as  it 
does  of  our  subject  and  George  and  Charles  Hires  and  John  Turner.  The 
record  is  one  of  which  any  man  might  well  be  proud,  and  Mr.  Plummer  is 
to  be  congratulated  on  achieving  such  a  marked  success. 

He  was  married  in  1881,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Robinson,  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min O.  Robinson,  a  farmer  of  Quinton  township.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children:  Jerome  H.;  Loren  P.;  Hannah  R..  and 
William,  Jr., — all  attending  school.    Mr.  Plummer  is  a  Republican  and  is  the 


496  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

present  postmaster  of  Quinton,  having  served  since  1896  and  before  that 
from  1880  to  1884.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fenwick  Club,  of  Salem,  and  the 
president  of  the  Quinton  Building  &  Loan  Association;  and  any  movement 
that  has  only  the  good  of  the  community  as  its  object  is  sure  of  his  ready 
sympathy  and  assistance. 


SA]\IUEL  W.  DUNN. 


Samuel  W.  Dunn,  a  son  of  John  C.  and  Sarah  J.  Dunn,  has  for  many 
years  been  known  as  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent  business  men  of 
Salem,  having  throughout  a  long  period  been  closely  identified  with  the 
commercial  and  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  and  the  surrounding 
country.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Salem  county,  his  birth  having  occurred  on 
the  23d  of  July,  1845,  in  the  city  which  is  still  his  home.  His  boyhood  days 
were  passed  in  this  locality  and  his  education  was  completed  by  graduation 
in  Pennington  Seminary  in  1862.  Immediately  afterward  he  entered  upon 
his  business  career  as  a  dry  goods  merchant.  In  1868  he  became  associated 
with  the  firm  of  Hall,  Dunn  &  Hunt,  in  the  manufacture  of  floor  oil-cloth  in 
Salem.  From  the  beginning  their  enterprise  proved  successful,  their  trade 
constantly  and  steadily  increasing  until  they  were  in  command  of  a  very 
large  and  profitable  business.  The  product  of  their  factory  was  of  a  superior 
grade,  both  in  quality  and  patterns,  and  therefore  found  a  ready  sale  on  the 
market.  For  twenty-seven  years  Mr.  Dunn  was  one  of  the  largest  manufac- 
turers of  the  county,  but  at  the  end  of  that  period  practically  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  in  September,  1895.  He  has,  however,  extensive  real-estate  inter- 
ests, and  to  his  investments  he  gives  his  personal  supervision. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  1870,  Mr.  Dunn  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  Hill  Pennell,  a  daughter  of  William  H.  Pennell,  a  prominent 
dry-goods  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
bright  and  interesting  children  whose  future  seems  to  be  very  promising. 
Nellie  Pennell,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  1871  and  is  a  graduate  of  Brook  Hall, 
in  Media,  Pennsylvania;  Samuel  Herbert  was  called  home  to  the  higher 
life  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1884;  William  Pennell, 
born  October  6,  1877,  is  a  graduate  of  the  West' Jersey  Academy  at  Bridge- 
ton,  completing  the  course  there  in  June,  1896;  Norman  Cattell,  born  ]\Iay 
5,  1879,  is  a  graduate  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Military  Institute  of  the  class  of 
1899.  During  the  summer  season  the  family  occupy  a  beautiful  summer 
home  in  Salem,  at  northwest  corner  of  Fourth  and  Broadway,  but  in  the 
winter  they  spend  their  time  at  their  Philadelphia  residence.    They  are  among 


^^^^^^^^^.^  ^/y 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  497 

the  most  prominent  and  highly  cultured  people  of  the  community  and  enjoy 
the  warm  regard  and  high  esteem  of  a  very  large  circle  of  friends. 

'Sir.  Dunn  is  a  member  of  Excelsior  Lodge,  No.  54,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Salem, 
and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  Fenwick  Lodge,  No.  164,  L  O.  O.  F., 
which  was  instituted  in  1871.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Manufacturers' 
Club,  of  Philadelphia,  and  for  several  years  was  a  trustee  of  the  Salem  school 
board,  as  also  a  trustee  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  this  city.  His 
success  has  been  the  result  of  honest,  just  and  persistent  effort  in  the  line  of 
honorable  and  manly  dealing. 

His  reputation  for  integrity  and  able  achievements  is  the  best  evi- 
dence of  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  associates 
and  fellow  citizens.  His  aims  have  always  been  to  attain  to  the  best, 
and  he  has  carried  forward  to  successful  completion  whatever  he  has  under- 
taken. His  life  has  marked  a  steady  growth,  and  now  he  is  in  the  possession 
of  an  ample  competence,  and  more  than  all  has  that  contentment  that  comes 
from  the  consciousness  of  having  done  his  part  toward  improving  the  condir 
tions  and  advancing  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  his  native  city. 


JOHN    C.    DUNN. 


Through  many  generations  John  C.  Dunn  can  trace  the  ancestry  of  his 
family  in  America.  They  w-ere  an  old  family  of  Penn's  Neck  township. 
Soon  after  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes  by  order  of  Louis  XIV  in 
1664,  many  Huguenots  emigrated  to  this  country  to  avoid  persecution. 
Among  them  were  two  brothers,  Zaccheus  and  Thomas  Dunn.  They  were 
probably  nati^•es  of  Alsace  or  Lorraine,  and  the  former  located  at  Piles 
Grove,  while  the  latter  took  up  his  abode  at  Penn's  Neck,  where  he  had 
numerous  descendants.  In  1689  Thomas  purchased  a  farm  from  William 
Penn,  the  same  being  surveyed«by  Richard  Tindall.  It  joined  lands  owned 
by  Hans  Cornelius  and  the  widow  Hendricks  near  Finn's  Point.  Thomas 
Dunn  was  a  Calvinist  and  some  of  his  descendants,  with  other  settlers  of 
the  neighborhood,  organized  the  old  Presbyterian  church  at  Pennsville.  In 
the  old  family  Bible  is  given  the  following'  record :  Ebenezer  Dunn,  a  son 
of  John  and  Catherine  Dunn,  was  born  on  Wednesday,  April  24,  1753.  He 
married  Abigail  Copncr,  on  the  nth  of  June,  1772,  and  after  her  death, 
which  occurred  March  5,  1780,  he  was  married,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1781. 
to  Mary  Pedrick.  His  death  occurred  July  12,  1812.  Thomas  Dunn,  the 
second  son  of  John  and  Catherine  Dunn,  was  born  on  Friday,  January  12, 
17^^.     The  other  members  of  the  family  were:    Jean,  who  was  born  on 

II— FF 


498  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Monday,  December  20.  1756;  Sarah,  who  was  born  March  2,  1759:  and 
John,  who  was  born  Januarj'  12,  1761,  and  died  June  15,  1777. 

Samuel  Dunn,  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Abigail  (Conner)  Dimn,  was  born 
May  4,  1775.  and  died  July  5,  1782.  He  was  the  eldest  of  their  children,  the 
others  being:  Catherine,  who  was  born  October  8,  1777,  and  died  April  6, 
1780;  and  Thomas,  born  December  14,  1779,  and  died  November  27,  1780. 
By  his  second  marriage,  to  Mary  Pedrick,  Ebenezer  Dunn  had  five  children : 
Thackery,  who  was  born  April  23,  1782,  and  died  December  16,  1792; 
Sarah,  who  was  !)orn  June  jt,.  1784;  Samuel,  who  was  born  December  17, 
1786;  Elijah,  who  was  bom  July  3.  1789,  and  died  February  20,  1829;  and 
Mary,  who  was  born  February  2t,.  1792,  and  died  November  15,  1814. 

Of  this  family  Samuel  Dunn  was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was 
married  December  26,  1807,  to  Gulielme  Jeffries,  who  died  April  18,  1823. 
Their  children  were  :  Sarah,  who  was  born  March  21,  1809,  became  the  wife 
of  Alpheus  Bilderbeck  in  March,  1833;  Eliza,  born  December  30,  1810,  was 
married  March  4,  1830,  to  George  Snitcher;  Mary,  born  January  29,  1813, 
died  on  the  2d  of  March  of  the  same  year;  Rebekah,  born  March  27,  181 5, 
was  married  February  7,  1833,  to  Michael  Powers;  Ebenezer,  born  February 
26,  1817,  married  Lydia  Ann  Tindall;  Mar\\  born  August  7,  1818,  was 
married  March  28,  1838,  to  Samuel  C.  Gilmore;  John  C,  the  next  of  the 
family,  was  born  October  17,  1819;  Elijah  W.,  born  September  14,  1821, 
married  Sarah  Eliza  Newell,  a  daughter  of  Judge  James  Newell;  Ann,  born 
February  16.  1822,  married  Charles  S.  Gibbon.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren died  April  18,  1823,  and  on  the  i8th  of  January,  1826,  Samuel  Dunn 
wedded  Sarah  Casperson.  His  death  occurred  February  6,  1837.  The 
children  bv  his  second  marriage  were  as  follows:  Nehemiah,  born  November 
4,  1827,  died  in  January,  1872.  He  was  married  December  31,  1849,  to 
Abigail  G.  Thompson,  who  died  October  13,  1896.  They  had  a  son,  Albert 
Rodger,  who  was  born  October  21,  1850,  and  w-as  married  March  26,  1873, 
to  Emily  Miller,  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  Tliomas,  born  October  13,  1829, 
was  married  May  31,  1870,  to  Mary  Amelia  Chew,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Sara  Maria  and  William  Bruna.  The  former  was  bom  March  7,  1871, 
and  was  married  November  i,  1898,  to  First  Lieutenant  Frank  B.  Watson,  of 
the  Nineteenth  Infantr>',  United  States  Army.  William  B.  was  born  August 
16,  1875.  Caroline,  the  third  child  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Casperson)  Dunn, 
was  born  August  27,  1834,  and  died  December  8,  1836.  Thacker}-,  the 
youngest,  was  born  April  28,  1836,  and  married  Anna  Scattergood. 

John  C.  Dunn,  whose  name  introduces  this  record,  was  bom  at  Finn's 
Point,  now  Fort  Mott,  October  17,  1819.  He  came  to  Salem  in  early  life  to 
engage  in  the  drs'-goods  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  C.  &  E.  \V. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEJJ'   JERSEY. 


499 


Dunn.  Later  he  became  interested  in  the  oilcloth  business  and  opened  a 
wholesale  store  in  Philadelphia  where  he  carried  on  operations  until  his 
death,  doing  a  large  and  very  profitable  btisiness.  His  marked  energy, 
unflagging  industry  and  strong  resolution  enabled  him  to  work  his  way 
steadily  upward  and  to  acquire,  through  well  directed  efforts,  a  handsome 
competence.  In  business  circles  he  enjoyed  an  unassailable  reputation,  and 
wherever  he  was  known  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond. 

Mr.  Dunn  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Bilderback.  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Charles  Bilderback,  who  was  born  January  23,  1823. 
Six  children  were  born  of  their  union.  Samuel  ^^'..  who  was  born  July  23, 
1845.  wedded  ]\Iary  Hill  Pennell,  November  10.  1870.  Lydia  Bilderback, 
who  was  born  September  23.  1847.  became  the  wife  of  Alexander  G.  Cattell 
on  the  loth  of  November,  1873.  Charles  Gilmore.  who  was  born  June  23, 
185 1,  married  Ourilla  Cressy  for  his  first  wdfe.  while  for  his  second  wife  he 
chose  Miss  Abbie  Sheppard,  whom  he  wedded  February  4.  1897.  and  by 
whom  he  has  one  son.  He  was  formerly  engaged  in  the  oilcloth  business, 
but  is  now  living  retired.  John  C.  born  March  17.  1854.  was  married  May 
15.  1880,  to  Ella  D.  Duncan;  He  resides  in  Philadelphia  and  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  CamdeJi  Floor  Oilcloth  Works.  Lizzie  was  bom  October  18, 
1855.  Ella,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  w-as  bom  Februan,'  6,  i860,  and 
died  August  30,  1876. 

In  his  political  views  in  early  life  Mr.  Dunn  was  a  Whig  but  transferred 
his  support  to  the  Republican  party  when  it  was  organized  and  continued 
one  of  its  stalwart  advocates  until  his  death.  He  belonged  to'  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Salem  and  contributed  to  its  support  with  a  lavish  hand, 
giving  freely  of  his  time  and  means  when  workers  were  most  needed.  He 
was  an  ofificer  of  the  church  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  and  the  beau- 
tiful memorial  window  which  was  placed  in  the  building  in  which  he  so  loved 
to  worship  is  a  fitting  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  grand,  good  man.  He 
lived  to  the  age  of  three-score  years  and  ten,  and  in  the  evening  of  life  had 
no  occasion  to  look  over  the  past  with  regret  or  forward  to  the  future  with 
fear.  His  career  was  ever  an  honorable  and  upright  one,  worthy  of  the  con- 
fidence and  respect  so  freely  given  him,  and  his  memory  remains  as  a  grateful 
benediction  to  all  who  knew  him. 


JOHN    C.    DUNN,    JR. 


In  political  and  military  life  the  opportunities  for  advancement  are  lim- 
ited. There  is  but  one  chief  political  ruler,  one  chief  commanding  officer 
in  any  army,  but  in  the  field  of  commerce  the  possibilities  are  almost  limit- 


SOO  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

less,  owing  to  the  great  variety  of  enterprises  to  wliich  man  may  turn  liis 
energies.  It  is  tiie  person  of  resolute  purpose,  keen  sagacity  and  unfaltering 
determination  that  steadily  advances,  leaving  the  ranks  of  the  many  to  stand 
among  the  successful  few.  This  Mr.  Dunn  has  accomplished  and  as  a  lead- 
ing manufacturer  of  southern  New  Jersey  he  is  well  known  in  business 
circles. 

He  was  born  on  Broadway,  in  Salem,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1854,  and 
attended  the  schools  of  his  native  town  until  about  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  entered  a  school  in  Norristown,  Pennsylvania.  He  early  entered 
upon  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the  retail  dry-goods  store  of  Pennell 
&  Brother,  of  Philadelphia,  and  later  went  upon  the  road  as  a  salesman  for 
John  B.  Ellison  &  Sons,  with  whom  he  was  connected  for  five  years.  He 
was  afterward  with  L.  D.  Farr  for  six  years  as  bookkeeper  and  confidential 
clerk,  but  later  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account,  establishing  an  oil- 
cloth manufactory,  in  1882,  at  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Jefferson  avenues 
in  Camden.  There  he  is  still  doing  business.  The  enterprise  was  put  in 
active  operation  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  C.  Dunn.  Jr.,  &  Company.  On 
the  death  of  his  father  in.  1892  our  subject  assumed  full  charge  and  the  firm 
title  of  the  J.  C.  Dunn  Manufacturing  Company  was  assumed.  Fine  floor 
oilcloth  is  manufactured  and  the  entire  product  is  sold  by  W.  &  J.  Sloane,  of 
New  York  city,  and  by  them  is  sent  to  all  the  markets  of  the  country.  The 
plant  has  a  capacity  of  one  million  yards  annually,  and  in  the  manufacture 
of  the  oilcloth  about  one  hundred  men  are  continually  employed.  This  is 
one  of  the  leading  industries  of  Camden,  and  the  business  is  constantly 
increasing.  Mr.  Dunn  is  the  sole  owner  of  the  plant,  which  is  an  extensive 
one,  well  equipped  with  all  the  latest  improved  machinery.  The  buildings 
stand  on  a  large  tract  of  land  and  there  is  about  fifty  thousand  square  feet 
of  floor  space.  The  site  adjoins  the  West  Jersey  Railroad  and  thus  excellent 
shipping  facilities  are  secured.  The  machinery  is  operated  by  steam  power, 
and  everything  is  most  complete  in  its  appointments  for  turning  out  high- 
grade  work. 

Mr.  Dunn  married  Miss  Ella  D.  Duncan,  a  daughter  of  David  Duncan, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  children:  Bessie  Mabel;  Walter 
Duncan,  who  is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  business;  Helen  Cattell 
and  Elsie  Dewees.  In  his  political  afifihations  Mr.  Dunn  is  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican. He  belongs  to  the  Manufacturers'  Club  of  Philadelphia  and  is 
well  known  in  social  and  business  circles,  enjoying  an  enviable  reputation 
bv  reason  of  his  straightforward  methods  and  his  many  agreeable  social 
qualities. 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  501 

C.   GILMORE  DUNN. 

The  name  of  Dunn  has  long  figured  conspicuously  in  connection  with 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  southern  New  Jersey,  and  the  business  ability 
of  its  representatives  has  brought  to  them  rich  and  well  merited  success.  He 
whose  name  introduces  this  review  is  one  whose  carefully  directed  eii'orts 
have  enabled  him  to  put  aside  the  more  arduous  cares  of  commercial  life 
and  live  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  labor.  His  home 
is  in  Philadelphia,  but  he  has  a  beautiful  summer  residence  at  Cape  May, 
and  on  the  Atlantic  shore  spends  the  hot  months  of  summer. 

Mr.  Dunn  is  numbered  among  New  Jersey's  native  sons,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Salem,  on  the  23d  of  June,  1851,  his  parents  being  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  C.  Dunn.  He  acquired  his  education  in  Salem  Academy  and  became 
interested  in  the  floor  oilcloth  business  in  Philadelphia.  His  father  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  country  in  the  manufacture  of  oilcloth,  and  when 
twenty  years  of  age  Gilmore  Dunn  became  actively  identified  with  the  enter- 
prise, the  management  of  which  he  made  his  life  work  during  his  active 
business  career.  The  industry  carefully  directed  brought  to  the  owners  a 
handsome  competence  and  the  business  steadily  increased  in  volume  and 
importance  until  the  sales  were  very  extensive  and  their  goods  were  found 
in  all  the  leading  markets  of  the  country.  Mr.  Dunn  continued  his  associa- 
tion with  the  business  until  1896,  when  he  retired  to  private  life. 

He  has  been  twice  married.  He  first  wedded  Oriha  Creese,  and  after 
her  death  married  Miss  Abbie  Sheppard,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Sheppard,  an 
old  resident  of  Cape  May  county.  They  have  one  child,  Marin  Sheppard. 
Mr.  Dunn  is  a  member  of  Shekinah  Lodge,  No.  246,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  in  his  political  views  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  man  well  known 
in  business,  political  and  social  circles,  and  his  opinions  carry  weight  in  all. 
His  life  has  been  quiet  and  uneventful,  devoted  to  the  duties  of  business  and 
private  life,  yet  showing  forth  the  intrinsic  weight  of  character  that  every- 
where commands  respect  and  stands  as  an  example  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


JAMES  A.   PORCH. 

James  A.  Porch,  who  died  April  15,  1900.  lived  to  be  the  oldest  resident 
of  Gloucester  county.  He  was  born  in  Hurftville,  this  county,  September 
16,  1810,  a  son  of  Samuel  Porch  and  Edith,  a  daughter  of  James  Abbott. 
His  great  grandfather,  Samuel  Porch,  was  born  in  the  same  county  and 
passed  there  his  entire  life,  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil.     He  was  a  soldier  of  the 


502  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  PIRST 

Revolution  and  fought  in  defence  of  his  country  under  General  George 
Washington.  He  died  in  Deptford  township  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
family  burial  ground  at  Bethel,  New  Jersey.  He  was  twice  married  and  had 
three  children :  John;  Polly,  who  married  Nathan  Wetherbee;  and  Samuel 
Porch  second,  the  father  of  James  A.  Porch,  who  was  born  at  Hurfifville, 
where  he  became  a  prominent  farmer,  but  was  prematurely  killed  by  light- 
ning while  working  in  the  harvest  field.  His  children  were:  Mary,  who 
married  John  Barker,  both  now  deceased;  James  A.,  and  Samuel  third. 
Mrs.  Porch  died  at  Williamstow-n,  New  Jersey. 

James  A.  Porch  w^as  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  followed  that  honoral^le 
vocation  throughout  a  long  and  active  life.  He  was  but  four  years  old  when 
his  father  was  so  suddenly  taken  from  him,  and  in  consequence  was  adopted 
into  the  family  of  his  grandfather,  with  whom  he  resided  until  the  death  of 
the  latter.  He  then  succeeded  to  his  present  farm,  upon  which  he  has  re- 
sided for  over  seventy  years. 

He  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife,  Massey  \Villiams,  were  born 
two  children :  Joseph,  who  married  Matilda  Heritage  and  now  resides  at 
Dudley,  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey;  and  Mary,  the  widow  of  Cooper 
Orange.  By  his  .second  wife,  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  and  Annie  Springer, 
his  children  were:  Hannah  A.,  Samuel  and  James,  all  now  deceased;  Martha, 
the  widow  of  Robert  Morgan;  and  E.  Aliline,  the  wife  of  Augustus  Stewart. 
His  second  wife  died  in  1878. 

Lewis  Warwick,  bom  on  the  iiomestead  farm  October  31,  1847,  ^^''^ 
adopted  into  the  Porch  family,  with  whom  he  has  lived  during  his  entire  Hie, 
and  now  superintends  the  homestead  farm.  He  married  Miss  Kate  Jones 
and  has  one  son,  James  P.,  who  married  Annie  Cox. 

Mr.  Porch,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  served  as  a  freeholder,  as  an  over- 
seer of  roads,  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  for  over  forty  years. 


WALTER  HERITAGE. 


Walter  Heritage  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  prominently  connected 
with  the  progress  of  many  lines  in  Gloucester  county,  and  his  name  is  found 
on  the  roll  of  the  leading  farmers  of  East  Greenwich  township.  He  was 
born  March  21,  1855,  on  the  farm  about  a  mile  from  his  present  home,  and 
is  a  son  of  Charles  Heritage,  of  Wolferth  Station.  His  preliminary  educa- 
tion, acquired  in  the  public  schools,  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the 
Friends'  school  at  Mickleton  and  by  one  year's  study  in  Kennett  Square.   On 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  503 

putting  aside  his  text-books  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  after  which  he  came  to  his  present  home,  which  is  the  birth- 
place of  his  father  and  is  now'  owned  by  his  uncle,  Benjamin  Heritage,  of 
Mickleton.  He  is  a  very  successful  raiser  of  garden  produce  and  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Mickleton  Hall.  He  has  made  a  close  study  of  the  methods 
of  cultivating  the  vegetables  which  find  a  prompt  sale  on  the  market,  and  the 
excellence  of  the  products  enables  him  to  dispose  of  them  very  readily.  His 
business  efforts  are  now  attended  with  a  creditaljle  and  satisfactory  degree  of 
success. 

Mr.  Heritage  was  married  on  the  5th  of  March,  1878,  to  Miss  Susan  R. 
Haines,  a  daughter  of  John  Haines,  of  Mickleton,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren,— Howard  J.  and  Charles  T.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  in  social  relations  he  is  connected  with  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  of  Swedesboro,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  of  Clarksboro,  and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  of  Mickleton.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  since  1897  has  been  the  assessor  of  his  town- 
ship. He  was  a  member  of  the  township  committee  for  six  years,  clerk  of 
the  board  of  registrars  for  se\-eral  years,  and  is  at  present  the  secretary  of  the 
township  board  of  health.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  state  board  of  agriculture,  and  was  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  the 
Mickleton  Friends'  school.  It  will  thus  be  seen  how  closely  he  has  been 
identified  with  progress  along  various  lines^ — social,  political,  intellectual  and 
material;  and  at  all  times  he  gives  his  support  and  co-operation  to  the  move- 
ments and  measures  which  are  intended  to  promote  the  general  good. 


LUKE  F.  SMITH. 


Luke  F.  Smith,  now  one  of  the  prosperous  business  men  of  Elmer, 
Salem  county,  within  the  past  few  years  has  laid  the  foundations  of  a  fortune, 
at  the  same  time  affording  employment  to  many  of  his  fellow-citizens,  thus 
becoming,  in  a  nieasure,  a  public  benefactor. 

Patriotism,  integrity  and  industry,  three  essentials  in  a  good  citizen,  were 
instilled  into  the  mind  of  our  subject  from  his  earliest  recollection.  He  is  a 
descendant  of  Peter  Smith,  who  established  the  family  in  this  country  at  a 
very  early  date.  His  descendants  now  form  one  of  the  most  numerous  as 
well  as  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  families  of  Salem  county. 
We  have  an  account  of  but  one  of  his  children.  Captain  W^illiam  Smith,  who 
was  an  officer  of  militia  in  the  war  for  independence,  and  distinguished  him- 


504  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

self  by  crossing  a  creek  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  at  Ouinton  Bridge,  Salem 
county,  riding  his  horse  over  a  single  plank.  He  was  bom  December  lo, 
1742,  but  the  place  of  his  birth  cannot  be  determined.,  His  wife,  Sarah 
Smith,  was  born  October  24,  1744,  and  their  children  were:  Lydia,  who 
was  born  February  11,  1764,  and  became  the  wife  of  John  Harris,  who 
served  in  the  regular  army  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war;  Oliver,  born 
April  8,  1765;  Phineas,  born  October  17,  1768;  Hannah,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1770,  and  became  Mrs.  Sims;  Millicent,  who  was  born  December 
25,  1772,  and  died  in  childhood;  Sarah,  who  was  born  October  19,  1775,  and 
became  the  wife  of  John  Blackwood;  Mary,  who  was  born  March  18,  1778, 
and  became  Mrs.  Simpkins;  Washington;  and  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  April 
27,  1783,  and  died  in  childhood.  Of  this  family  Washington  Smith  was  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  June  22,  1780,  and  married 
Mary  Patrick,  who  was  born  July  13,  1784.  Their  children  were  Mary  Ann, 
who  was  born  January  3,  1801,  and  became  the  wife  of  Judge  Ephraim  Carll; 
Peter;  Elizabeth,  who  was  born  October  20,  1806,  and  married  Oliver 
Smith;  John  Patrick;  Abner;  Martha,  wife  of  Abner  Patrick;  Phineas; 
Lucetta,  wife  of  Richard  Mulford;  Samuel,  who  died  in  childhood;  Lydia, 
wife  of  John  Mills;  and  Washington.  Peter  Smith,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  June  17,  1805.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Elliot,  who  was 
born  February  28,  1808.  His  death  occurred  February  18,  1879,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  December  16,  1880.  Their  children  were:  James  W.,  who 
was  born  May  16,  1829,  and  died  September  27,  1849;  Jesse  P.,  who  was 
born  February  3,  1832,  and  died  July  8,  1833;  Samuel  P.,  who  was  born  July 
24,  1835;  Ephraim  Carll,  who  was  born  November  24,  1835,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 15,  1898;  Thomas  Jefiferson,  who  was  born  April  21,  1841,  and  is  a  physi- 
cian in  Bridgeton,  Cumberlantl  county,  New  Jersey;  and  Peter  Elmer,  who 
was  born  September  23,  1842,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Mannington  township, 
Salem  county. 

Luke  S.  Fogg,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1813,  and  died  September  25,  1886.  He  married  Ann  Harris, 
December  8,  1836,  who  was  born  June  17,  1813,  a  daughter  of  Stretch  and 
Rebecca  Harris.  She  died  December  17,  1841.  They  had  two  children — 
Hannah  H.  and  John  H.;  the  latter  was  born  December  27,  1840.  and  died 
FebAiary  2,  1884.  For  his  second  wife  Luke  S.  Fogg,  March  29,  1854,  mar- 
ried Phebe  B.  Mulford,  who  was  born  February  3,  1832,  and  died  February 
II.  1884.  Both  of  the  wives  of  Mr.  Fogg  were  great-granddaughters  of 
Captain  William  Smith. 

Ephraim  Carll  Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Lower  Penns 
Neck  township,  Salem  county,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools  of 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT    OF   NEW    JERSEY.  505 

his  native  town,  in  the  Friends'  school  and  in  the  Academy  of  Salem.  Dur- 
ing his  active  business  career  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  but  in  1885 
removed  to  Salem,  where  he  lived  retired.  He  was  a  prominent  man,  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Baptist  church. 

He  was  very  successful  in  his  undertakings,  becoming  possessed  of  a 
considerable  amount  of  the  rich  farming  land  for  which  southern  New  Jersey 
is  noted.  He  was  married  January  16,  1856,  to  Miss  Hannah  H.  Fogg,  who 
was  born  September  7,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Luke  S.  Fogg,  and  the  children 
born  of  their  union  are :  Luke  F. ;  Anna  Rebecca,  who  was  born  February 
17,  185Q,  and  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  S.  Buzby,  a  farmer  of  Mannington  town- 
~  ship,  by  whom  she  has  two  children^ — Luke  S.  and  Hannah  S. ;  JefTerson 
Warren,  a  farmer  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  who  was  born  April  5, 
1862,  and  was  married  November  17,  1888,  to  Miss  Margaret  W.  Austin,  a 
daughter  of  William  Austin,  of  Piles  Grove,  by  whom  he  has  two  children — • 
John  Frank  and  Ephraim  Carll;  Frank  Peter,  who  was  born  March  19,  1868, 
and  died  March  13,  1870;  Phebe  Fogg,  who  was  born  January  14,  1871,  and 
died  October  29,  of  the  same  j^ear;  and  John  Fogg,  who  was  born  December 
4,  1873,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  and  are  people 
of  the  highest  respectability  and  worth.  The  sons  give  their  political  sup- 
port to  the  Republican  party. 

Luke  F.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Mannington  township,  September  19, 
1856,  received  a  connnon-school  education,  and  early  learned  the  details  of 
farming.  He  worked  three  years  faithfully  at  his  calling  after  leaving  the 
schoolroom,  but  at  the  end  of  that  period  decided  to  undertake  a  connnercial 
career.  In  1883  he  went  to  Sharpstown,  where  he  engaged  in  the  canning 
business,  and  three  years  later  he  sold  his  factory  there  at  a  good  profit.  In 
1888  he  came  to  Elmer  and  purchased  his  present  factory,  since  which  time 
he  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  the  canning  of  tomatoes,  for  whicli 
product  this  region  is  especially  noted.  The  factory  has  a  capacity  of  from 
seven  to  nine  hundred  thousand  cans  during  the  season,  and  usually  the 
demand  of  the  trade  is  fully  equal  to  the  output.  In  addition  to  this  flourish- 
ing business,  which  he  handles  with  great  system,  Mr.  Smith  owns  another 
factory  at  Alloway,  where  from  five  to  seven  hundred  thousand  cans  of 
tomatoes  are  prepared  for  the  public  consumption  annually.  The  brand 
which  finds  special  favor  and  truly  wonderful  sale  in  all  parts  of  the  country 
is  known  as  the  "Jersey  Red,"  and,  as  its  flavor  is  uniformly  excellent,  it  is 
always  demanded  by  the  housekeeper  and  purveyor  to  the  public,  v\dierever 
obtainable. 

From  a  humble  beginning  Mr.  Smith  has  built  up  a  large  and  coiistantly 


5o6  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

growing  business,  and  thoroughly  merits  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is 
held  by  all  with  whom  lie  has  had  dealings.  He  is  a  trustee  in  both  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  Masonic  lodges,  and  is  much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  those 
fraternities.  Politically,  he  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party.  Socially  he  is  very  popular,  having  a  host  of  friends  in 
various  parts  of  Salem  county. 


W'.XLTER  S.  BASSETT. 


Walter  S.  Bassett,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Gloucester  county  and 
the  postmaster  of  the  Bassett  post-ofifice,  was  born  in  salem  county,  New 
Jersey,  in  1845.  His  father  was  the  late  David  Bassett,  an  extensive  stock 
dealer  and  farmer  of  Salem  county.  The  Bassett  family  is  of  English  lineage 
and  was  founded  in  America  at  an  early  day,  representatives  of  .the  name 
locating  in  Mannington  township,  Salem  county,  at  an  early  period  in  the 
development  of  that  section.  Joseph,  Benjamin  and  Elisha  Bassett  were 
brothers  and  the  last  named  is  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  resided 
on  the  old  Bassett  homestead  in  Mannington  township  ^nd  there  followed 
farming  throughout  his  active  business  career.  His  last  days,  however, 
were  spent  in  Salem,  where  he  died  about  thirty  years  ago,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  His  children  were  David,  Edward,  John,  Elisha,  Albert  and 
Elizabeth.  The  last  named  became  the  wife  of  Biddle  Haines.  The  family 
were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  the  grandfather  was  a  prom- 
inent man  in  his  church,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the  leaders  there. 

David  Bassett,  the  father  of  our  subject,  also  resided  in  Mannington 
township,  Salem  county,  for  many  years.  He  was  reared  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads,  and  on  entering  upon  his  business  career,  began  farming 
on  his  own  account.  Later  he  removed  to  Salem,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
stock  business,  handling  stock  on  an  extensive  scale.  He  died  in  that  city 
in  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  In  his  political  views  he  was  first 
a  Whig  and  aftenvard  a  Republican.  He  married  Mary  T.  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  Evi  Smith,  a  Philadelphia  merchant,  who  removed  to  Salem 
and  made  his  home  there  imtil  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  His  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bassett,  survived  her  husband  for  about  two  years.  She  was  the 
mother  of  four  children :  C.  Edwin,  of  Pennsville.  New  Jersey,  who  died 
in  1895;  Howard,  who  has  also  passed  away:  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Hancock;  and  Walter  S. 

The  last  named  was  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Salem  countv. 
began  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  afterward  attended  the 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  507 

Friends"  scliool  in  Salem  and  the  Friends'  school  in  Race  street,  Philadel- 
phia. At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  started  out  in  business  on  his 
own  account,  and  as  a  companion  and  helpmeet  in  life's  journey  he  chose 
Miss  Emma  S.  Black,  the  marriage  being  celebrated  in  Salem  county,  and 
the  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Hannah  (Rulon)  Black,  who  re- 
sided near  Swedesboro.  The  marriage  was  celebrated  January  9,  1872,  and 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children,  namely :  C.  Rulon,  who  was  formerly 
connected  with  the  bank  of  Philadelphia,  but  is  now  in  Trenton;  Alexander 
B.,  who  is  with  the  Cambria  Iron  Company  of  Philadelphia;  Lucretia  ]\I., 
at  home;  David  B.,  an  architect  of  Philadelphia:  Ralph  E.  and  Hannah  B., 
who  also  are  with  their  parents. 

In  1873  Air.  Bassett  removed  to  Gloucester  county  and  located  on  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock- 
raising.  He  now  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  his  section  of  the 
state,  the  place  being  supplied  with  all  modern  accessories  and  conveniences, 
while  the  well  tilled  fields  indicate  to  the  passer  by  the  careful  supervision 
and  progressive  methods  of  the  owner.  He  has  also  for  some  time  been  a 
director  in  the  Piles  Grove  Creamery  Company,  and  in  all  branches  of  his 
business  he  is  meeting  with  success. 

Mr.  Bassett  has  served  as  the  postmaster  of  the  Bassett  post-office  since 
1891,  discharging  his  duties  in  a  capable  manner.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart 
Republican,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth  and  secure  the 
success  of  his  party.  He  attends  the  county  and  state  conventions  and  is 
deeply  interested  in  political  cpiestions.  He  is  a  past  master  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  of  Swedesboro,  and  his  brethren  of  the  fraternity  presented  him  with 
a  handsome  jewel  in  1899.  He  also  belongs  to  the  American  Order  of 
United  Workmen  of  Swedesboro  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grange.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  Friends'  church  and  enjoy  the  high  regard  of  all  who 
know  them  by  reason  of  their  sterling  worth. 


JOSEPH  K.  WADDINGTON. 

The  name  of  W'addington  is  one  which  is  ineffaceably  traced  on  the 
history  of  Salem  county  and  figures  conspicuously  on  the  pages  of  the 
records  that  perpetuate  the  principal  events  from  early  colonial  days  down 
to  the  present  time.  Through  several  generations  the  lineage  can  be  traced, 
and  in  each  the  representatives  of  the  name  have  been  men  and  women  of 
sterling  worth  of  character  and  strong  intellectual  force,  typifying  in  their 
lives  that  unassuming  industry,  loyalty  and  integrity  which  have  ever  con- 


508  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

served  the  progress  and  material  prosperity  of  the  nation.  From  an  early 
colonial  epoch  the  name  has  been  identified  with  the  great  basic  industry 
of  agriculture,  and  through  well  directed  and  extensive  enterprise  in  this 
line  the  various  generations  have  lent  new  dignity  to  the  time-honored  art 
of  industry.  It  is  to  be  acknowledged  unmistakably  that  no  history  pur- 
porting to  touch  this  section  of  the  great  state  of  New  Jersey  would  be 
complete  were  there  failure  to  revert  in  detail  to  the  record  of  the  Wad- 
dington  family. 

The  original  American  ancestor  was  William  ^^'addington,  a  French 
Huguenot,  who  emigrated  to  the  New  World  about  the  year  1690,  leaving 
home  and  native  land,  as  did  many  others  of  his  countrymen,  in  order  to 
escape  the  persecution  waged  with  such  implacable  animosity  and  cruelty 
upon  a  devoted  people  after  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes.  In  New 
Jersey  he  found  a  home  and  was  permitted  to  enjoy  that  freedom  to  exercise 
his  convictions  which  had  been  denied  him  in  France.  From  Edward  Wade 
he  purchased  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  the  same  being  the  southern  por- 
tion of  the  Wade  allotment.  There  he  settled  and  maintained  his  home 
imtil  his  death,  and  it  is  interesting  to  revert  to  the  fact  that  this  property 
remained  in  the  possession  of  the  family  until  within  a  very  few  years  ago. 
William  Waddington  was  born  January'  13,  1779.  and  died  January  30, 
1823.  He  had  one  son,  Jonathan,  who  married  and  became  the  father  of 
the  following  named  children :  Jonathan  (2d)  married  a  great-grand- 
daughter of  John  and  Mary  (Chambless)  Hancock,  and  he  died  in  1760, 
leaving  one  son,  Jonathan  (3d).  This  was  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death, 
the  only  one  left  to  perpetuate  the  family  name  in  this  country.  He  married 
Sarah  B.  Bradway,  the  daughter  of  Aaron  Bradway,  of  Elsinboro  town- 
ship, Salem  county,  and  their  children  were:  William;  W.  Robert,  who 
married,  but  died  in  early  manhood,  leaving  three  sons, — Aaron.  Samuel 
and  James.  Aaron,  another  son  of  the  foregoing  Jonathan  3d,  married 
Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Edward  Keasby,  who  was  born  October  5,  1760, 
and  died  November  26,  1805.  His  children  were  Joseph,  born  March  26, 
1784;  Bradway,  born  April  26,  1786;  Prudence,  born  May  11,  1788:  Sarah, 
born  June  17,  1789;  Mary,  who  was  born  October  11,  1791,  and  died 
October  7,  1803;  Grace,  born  November  10,  1793;  Elizabeth,  January  15, 
1798;  and  Edward,  June  17,  1801.  Aaron  and  Sarah  (Keasby)  Wadding- 
ton became  the  parents  of  three  daughters  and  two  sons :  Sarah  Ann,  Lydia, 
Joshua,  Bradway  and  Jane.  Thomas,  the  third  son  of  Jonathan  3d.  was 
twice  married,  the  children  by  his  first  wife,  Hannah  Potts,  being  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  Mary,  Jonathan  and  Thomas,  while  his  second  wife,  Hannah 
Davis,   bore   him   two   daughters,- — Beulah   and   Jane.      Edward   W.,   the 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  509 

youngest  child  of  Jonathan,  3d,  and  Sarah  (Bradway)  Waddington,  was 
the  grandfather  of  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review. 

Edward  W.  \\^addington  passed  his  entire  Hfe  in  Salem  county,  having 
been  a  prominent  and  intluential  farmer  of  Lower  Alloway  Creek  town- 
ship, wdiere  he  carried  on  agricultural  operations  on  an  extensive  scale, 
owning  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
character,  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  adherency  and  was  highly  honored 
in  the  community.  He  was  married  February  2,  1809,  to  Prudence  Keasby, 
who  was  born  May  11,  1788,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Edward  and  Lydia 
Keasby.  She  was  a  woman  of  gentle  and  noble  character,  and  died  January 
5,  1867,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  while  Edward  Waddington,  her 
husband,  died  March  2,  1844,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  They  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  we  ofTer  record  as  follows :  Richard, 
born  October  23,  181 1,  was  a  farmer  of  Elsinboro  township  and  was  twice 
married;  Sarah,  born  October  23,  181 3,  married  James  Smith,  a  farmer 
of  the  same  township;  Edward,  born  November  12,  1815,  died  November 
3,  1834,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years;  Prudence,  born  May  5,  1818,  married 
Ebenezer  Barratt;  Elizabeth,  born  March  5,  1820,  married  John  Welch,  a 
farmer  of  Kansas;  Joseph,  born  May  15,  1821,  was  the  father  of  the  imme- 
diate subject  of  this  sketch;  Lydia  Ann,  born  January  27,  1823,  became 
the  wife  of  Jonathan  Bradway,  a  farmer  of  Cumberland  county,  but  now 
of  Salem  county;  and  Rebecca,  who  was  born  October  13,  1825,  became 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Borden,  a  farmer  of  Mannington  township,  Salem  county. 

The  original  American  ancestor,  William  Waddington,  had  but  the  one 
son,  to  whom  reference  has  been  made,  but  in  his  family  were  four  daughters, 
concerning  whom  the  following  data  are  extant:  Hannah  married  Maurice 
Beesley  and  became  the  mother  of  five  children :  Walker,  who  was  killed 
at  the  massacre  of  Hancock's  Bridge,  in  Salem  county,  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution;  Hannah  married  John  Beesley,  and  her  two  sons.  Walker 
and  David,  died  unmarried,  in  early  manhood;  Mary  married  Peter  Town- 
send,  of  Cape  May,  and  of  this  union  there  was  no  issue;  Benjamin  died  in 
early  manhood;  and  Abner  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Susanna 
Mason,  of  Elsinboro  township,  and  their  children  were  Marv,  William, 
Benjamin  and  Thomas.  Ann  Waddington,  daughter  of  William  AVadding- 
ton,  was  married  in  1750  to  John  BaraclifT.  Elizabeth,  third  daughter  of 
William  Waddington,  married  Edward,  a  son  of  Jonathan  Bradway,  in 
1760,  and  their  children  were:  David;  and  Hannah,  who  married  Job 
Stretch  and  had  issue.  Jane,  the  fourth  daughter  of  WilHam  Waddington, 
married  Bradway  Keasby,  she  being  his  second  wife,  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Sarah  Keasby,  who  married  John,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Hannah 


5IO  BIOGRAPIUCAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Pancoast,  and  became  tlie  motlier  of  six  cliildrcn, — Haiinali,  Joliii.  Israel, 
Jane,  David  and  Aaron. 

Joseph  Waddington,  the  father  of  tlie  immediate  subject  of  tliis  sketch, 
was  liorn  Mav  15.  1821,  in  Lower  Alloway  Creek  township,  Salem  county, 
and  Ijecame  a  successful  and  influential  farmer  of  Elsinboro  township,  where 
he  took  up  his  residence  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  spent  the  last 
fourteen  years  of  his  life  in  retirement,  making  his  home  in  Salem,  and 
entered  into  eternal  rest  September  i,  1895,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  and  the  conmiunity  mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  leading  and  most 
honored  representatives.  He  married  Ruth  Wright  Appleton,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Jane  (Hewes)  Appleton,  who  was  born  April  18,  1824,  and 
was  one  of  four  children,  the  others  being  Sarah,  George  and  Lewis.  The 
father  and  mother  both  died  man}-  years  ago,  and  Mrs.  Waddington  is  now 
the  only  living  representative  of  the  family  and  almost  the  only  one  of  the 
name  in  New  Jersey.  She  is  now  seventy-flve  years  of  age.  LTnto  Joseph 
and  Ruth  (Appleton)  Waddington  were  born  the  following  children : 
Emma,  who  was  bom  August  22,  1845,  and  is  the  wife  of  Gideon  Peasley, 
of  Gloucester  countj.  New  Jersey,  by  whom  she  has  three  children, — Ruth, 
Hannah  and  Amos;  Jane,  who  was  born  May  22,  1847,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years;  Elmer,  who  died  in  infancy;  Tacie,  born  January  20,  1852; 
Joseph  K.,  born  June  4,  1854;  and  Lydia  K.,  the  wife  of  William  ]Morris, 
of  Salem;  and  Georgianna,  born  in  May.  i860. 

Joseph  K.  Waddington,  whose  name  heads  this  article,  and  who  is  now 
a  prominent  merchant  and  representative  business  man  of  Salem,  was  reared 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Elsinboro  township,  and  in  his  early  youth 
attended  the  district  schools,  but  supplemented  his  preliminary  educational 
privileges  by  a  course  of  study  in  the  Friends'  school  in  Salem.  In  1878  he 
began  the  management  of  the  old  family  homestead,  and  for  four  years  con- 
tinued its  cultivation,  after  which  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  Mannington 
township,  which  he  conducted  until  1888.  He  then  came  to  Salem  and 
has  since  been  a  very  active  figure  in  the  commercial  circles  of  this  place. 
He  purchased  the  Clement  propert}'  and  store  at  Salem,  and  has  since 
carried  on  mercantile  pursuits,  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage  along 
that  line.  He  is  also  engaged  in  handling  coal,  grain  and  seeds,  and  is  con- 
ducting an  extensive  business,  his  sales  amounting  to  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  annually.  His  efiforts,  however,  are  not  limited  to  this  undertaking 
alone.  He  is  a  man  of  resourceful  business  ability  and  his  energies  have 
enabled  him  to  carry  on  successfully  other  undertakings.  He  is  a  director 
in  the  Salem  &  Philadelphia  Transportation  Company,  owning  a  steamer 
on  the  Delaware  river;  is  a  director  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEW   JERSEY.  511 

pany,  of  Salem  county;  ami  of  the  State  Building  &  Loan  Association,  and 
in  all  these  undertakings  his  wise  counsel  and  sound  judgment  have  proven 
important  factors  in  their  success. 

In  1884  Mr.  Waddington  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lizzie,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  R.  and  Lydia  (Bassett)  Zerne,  of  Salem,  and  they  have  three 
children:  William,  who  was  born  in  October,  1886;  J.  Elmer,  who  was  born 
in  1888:  Helen,  born  in  1893,  and  Joseph  K.,  Jr.,  born  in  May,  1900.  Mrs. 
Waddington  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  is  a  lady  of  culture 
to  whom  is  extended  the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes  in  Salem.  Mr.  Wad- 
dington, likewise,  has  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  is  very  popular  in  social 
and  business  circles.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Country  Club,  of  Salem, 
and  of  the  Lodge  of  Heptasophs.  In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Democrat,  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders,  and  is  now  the  city 
recorder  of  Salem.  He  has  for  nearly  two  decades  been  an  active  factor  in 
advancing  the  city  of  Salem,  and  during  that  entire  time  has  so  conducted 
all  of  his  affairs  as  to  command  the  esteem,  confidence  and  respect  of  all 
classes.  His  actions  have  during  his  life  been  such  as  to  distinctively  entitle 
him  to  a  place  in  this  publication,  and  although  his  career  has  not  been  filled 
with  thrilling  incidents,  probably  no  biography  published  in  this  work  can 
serve  as  a  better  illustration  to  young  men  of  the  power  of  honesty  and 
integrity  in  insuring  success. 


THOMAS  WILLIAM  MILLET. 

Thomas  William  ]\Iillet  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  3,  1852.  and 
is  a  representative  of  an  old  English  family.  His  father  was  born  in  Liver- 
pool, England,  and  during  his  early  boyhood  Edward  G.  Millet,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  came  to  America,  being  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the 
New  World.  The  family  took  up  their  abode  in  Philadelphia,  where 
Edward,  with  two  brothers,  George  and  John,  in  1835,  established  the  Cen- 
tral spice  mills.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Perkasie,  Pennsylvania,  where 
his  last  days  were  passed.  Of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  he  was  a  valued  member,  and  in  his  political  affiliations 
he  was  a  stalwart  Republican,  giving  to  the  party  his  earnest  support.  He 
married  Miss  Anna  C.  Zendt.  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children  : 
George  W. ;  Thomas  W.,  of  this  review;  Edward  G. ;  Harry  F. ;  Alfred; 
Abraham  Lincoln;  and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Irvin  Dill,  a  real-estate  dealer 
of  Perkasie.     The  father  of  these  children  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 


512  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

years,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  and  has  attained  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  Thomas  W.  :Millet  acquired  his 
education,  but  just  before  the  time  of  graduation  he  left  the  school-room 
and  entered  his  father's  spice  mill  and  remained  there  for  several  years.  In 
severing  that  business  connection  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Knicker- 
bocker Ice  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  was  sent  by  them 
to  Cape  May  to  take  charge  of  their  business  there  in  the  capacity  of  super- 
intendent. This  responsible  and  important  position  he  has  since  ably  filled 
and  now  has  twenty-four  men  in  his  immediate  employ,  while  nine  wagons 
are  used  in  the  deliver)'  of  ice  and  coal  sold  by  this  company.  ^Mr.  Millet 
is  an  enterprising  business  man  and  his  executive  force  and  capable  manage- 
ment have  not  only  brought  prosperity  to  the  company  which  he  represents 
but  have  also  secured  to  him  a  ver>-  excellent  salary  that  places  him  among 
the  substantial  men  of  Cape  May.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Cape  May 
Building  &  Loan  Association. 

iSIr.  Millet  was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Miss  Ida  Virginia  Simpson,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  Simpson,  a  shipbuilder  of  Philadelphia.  They  now  have  four 
children :  Jennie,  the  wife  of  Harry  F.  Ettinger,  the  manager  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company  and  the  Delaware  &  Atlantic  Telephone  Com- 
pany at  Cape  May;  Ida  V.:  Sara  E.;  and  Thomas  W.  The  family  attend 
the  jNIethodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  ilr.  ^lillet  is  a  prominent  and 
active  worker,  serv-ing  at  the  present  time  as  a  member  and  treasurer  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  He  belongs  to  Cape  ilay  Lodge,  No.  31,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
the  x\ncient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Hep- 
tasophs.  A  stalwart  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  he  has  been  called 
to  serve  in  various  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  For  several  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Cape  May,  and  during  that 
time  many  improvements  were  made  in  the  schools  and  the  new  public- 
school  building  was  erected. 

Mr.  ^Millet  always  has  given  his  support  to  the  measures  which  he  be- 
lieves would  prove  beneficial  to  the  cause  of  education.  He  was  elected  the 
mayor  of  Cape  May  city  on  the  14th  of  March.  1898.  defeating  J.  Henr\- 
Edmonds,  and  is  therefore  the  chief  executive  of  the  city.  His  administra- 
tion is  characterized  by  law  and  order,  by  progress  and  reform.  His  success 
in  business  life  has  come  to  him  through  energy,  labor,  and  perseverance, 
directed  by  an  equally  balanced  mind  and  by  honorable  business  principles. 
In  manner  he  is  quiet  and  straightforward,  saying  exactly  what  he  means 
without  the  employment  of  useless  compliments,  yet   his  social  qualities 


CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF   NEJV   JERSEY.  513 

render  him  a  favorite  with  all  classes  of  citizens,  and  his  career  commands 
the  respect  of  all. 


JOHN  WOOD  HANNOLD. 

Among  the  leading  representatives  of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Glou- 
cester county  and  one  well  worthy  of  the  esteem  which  is  so  frfeely  and  justly 
accorded  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  is  J.  Wood  Hannold,  who  is  identified 
with  the  farming  interests  of  Deptford  township.  He  w-as  born  in  Paulsboro, 
New  Jersey,  April  20,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Jane  A.  (Hendrick- 
son)  Hannold.  His  father  was  a  leading  citizen,  who  throughout  his  entire 
life  followed  the  river,  sailing  as  captain  on  the  Delaware.  He  died  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  His  father.  Captain  Frederick 
Hannold.  was  also  commander  of  a  boat  on  the  Delaware  river  for  many 
years.  The  maternal  parents  of  our  subject  were  Job  and  Permelia  (Lock) 
Hendrickson;  the  former  was  a  farmer  of  Greenwich  township,  Gloucester 
county,  where  he  died  about  1858.  He  reared  six  children,  all  of  whom  are 
yet  living,  their  ages  ranging  from  sixty  to  eighty-three  years.  At  a  birthday 
celebration  of  the  eldest  daughter  in  July,  1900,  there  were  present  tw-enty- 
nine  grandchildren,  eighty-one  great-grandchildren  and  seven  great-great- 
grandchildren, four  generations  being  represented  and  all  hale  and  hearty. 
The  Hendricksons  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Swedesboro  and  were  of 
Swedish  lineage.  The  Hannold  family  settled  at  Paulsboro  many  years  ago. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  had  seven  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  living, 
namely :  J.  Wood,  Samuel,  William,  Mary  Ella,  Evaline  and  Spencer  M. 

John  Wood  Hannold  w'as  reared  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  pur- 
sued his  education  in  the  schools  of  Paulsboro.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years 
he  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  residing  first  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Paulsboro,  after  which  he  spent  six  years  in  Cumberland  county,  moving 
back  to  Woodbury  in  1878,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  that 
place.  He  now  owns  a  farm  about  three  miles  from  Woodbury,  where  he 
has  one  hundred  acres  of  fine  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His 
business  methods  are  pra.ctical  and  progressive,  and  the  well-tilled  fields 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  them. 

At  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  however,  Mr.  Hannold  put  aside  all  persona! 
considerations  to  engage  in  the  ser\'ice  of  his  country,  enlisting  in  1S61  as 
a  member  of  the  Twenty-fourth  New  Jersey  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  served 
for  nine  months  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville.  He  now  belongs  to  General  Howell 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Woodbury,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pvthias 

II— GG 


SH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 


fraternity,  the  lleptasophs,  the  Knights  of  the  Mystic  Chain,  and  formerly 
affihated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  unswerving  in 
his  advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  party.  He  served  for  six  years  on  the 
board  of  freeholders  of  Gloucester  county  and  for  two  years  in  Cumberland 
county  during  his  residence  there.  He  attends  all  the  conventions  of  the 
party  and  does  everything  in  his  power  to  promote  the  gi-owth  and  secure 
the  success  of  the  political  organization  to  which  he  gives  his  support. 

Mr.  Hannold  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Curts,  a  daughter 
of  Lewis  and  Henrietta  (Catell)  Curts.  She  was  born  in  Deptford  township, 
Gloucester  county.  May  2,  1842.  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  daughters 
and  one  son,  namely:  Sarah  A.,  Mary  E.,  Anna  M.,  Harriet  F.,  Chockley 
C.  and  Henrietta.  All  are  living  with  the  exception  of  the  last  named.  Their 
parents  resided  in  Gloucester  county  until  i860,  when  they  removed  to  a 
farm  on  the  Potomac  river  in  Virginia,  twenty-eight  miles  below  Washing- 
ton. There  tliey  resided  through  the  period  of  the  civil  war,  their  home  being 
in  the  center  of  the  war  district.  Both  the  father  and  mother  are  now 
deceased.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannold  has  been  blessed  with  ten 
children:  Harvey  H.,  Cleretta  C.  Lizzie  P.,  Permelia  H.,  Oscar,  Chockley 
C,  Woody  J.,  John  W.,  Lewis  C.  and  Ada  T.  Of  these,  Permelia  H., 
Oscar  and  Woody  are  now  deceased.  John  W.  married  Mary  A.  Sagers  and 
they  have  one  child,  Gertrude.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hannold  are  enterprising  and 
prominent  people  of  Gloucester  county.  His  life  has  been  an  honorable, 
useful  and  industrious  one,  and  in  all  relations  of  life  he  has  commanded  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 


SAMUEL  H.   GREY. 


Samuel  H.  Grey,  attorney  general,  residing  at  Camden,  New  Jersey,  w-as 
born  in  this  city  April  6,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  James  Grey,  for  many 
years  a  leading  man  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  Sarah  Woolston  Ste- 
phens, his  wife,  a  member  of  an  orthodox  Quaker  family.  He  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Camden,  where  he  was  educated  at  private  schools  kept  by  Hon. 
Fayette  Grover,  afterward  the  governor  of  Oregon  and  a  senator  from  that 
state,  and  liis  brother  Talleyrand.  He  studied  law  with  Hon.  Abraham 
Browning  as  his  preceptor,  the  first  attorney  general  appointed  under  the 
new  constitution,  and  was  admitted  as  an  attorney  at  the  Novemlier  term, 
1857,  and  as  a  counselor  at  the  February  term,  1S61. 

The  attorney  general  long  since  achieved  for  himself  a  high  reputation 


Samuel   JV.    Srei/ 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  515 

as  a  lawyer,  a  pleader  and  an  orator.  He  has  figured  in  many  prominent 
legal  battles,  in  nearly  all  of  which  he  has  come  out  crowned  with  victory. 
His  masterly  conduct  of  the  impeachment  proceedings  in  the  case  of  Prison- 
keeper-Patrick  H.  Laverty,  in  1886,  when  he  acted  as  counsel  for  the  house 
of  assembly,  brought  about  conviction  by  the  state  senate  sitting  as  a  high 
court  of  impeachment,  and  which  was  presided  over  by  John  W.  Griggs, 
since  governor  of  New  Jersey.  His  argument  before  the  supreme  court  in 
1888,  in  support  of  the  constitutionality  of  the  local-option  law,  won  for 
him  a  favorable  decision,  and  the  statute  was  not  disturljetl.  With  other 
eminent  lawyers  as  his  associates,  he  distinguished  himself  in  the  famous 
controversy  over  the  organization  of  the  state  senate  in  1894,  when  a  full 
bench  of  the  supreme  court  sustained  his  interpretation  of  the  constitutional 
law  bearing  on  the  case.  Chief  Justice  Beasley  delivered  the  opinion  of  the 
court,  which  declared  that  Maurice  A.  Rogers,  Repul)lican,  was  the  duly 
elected  president  of  the  senate. 

Twice  has  the  attorney  general  been  a  presidential  elector  for  New  Jer- 
sey.— in  1872,  when  the  vote  of  the  state  was  cast  for  Grant  and  Wilson,  and 
in  1896,  when  it  was  recorded  for  McKinley  and  Hobart.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  constitutional  commission  of  1873,  and  was  president  of  the 
constitutional  commission  of  1894. 

In  1866  Mr.  Grey  was  appointed  prosecutor  of  the  pleas  for  the  county 
of  Cape  May,  and  served  seven  years.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Republican  state  executive  committee  from  1868  to  1871.  Several  times  he 
has  refused  judicial  and  political  honors.  He  could  have  gone  to  congress 
in  1874,  when  he  declined  a  nomination  in  the  first  congressional  district. 
Governor  Griggs  offered  him  the  office  of  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court 
in  1897,  which  he  declined.  On  March  i  of  the  same  year  he  was  nominated 
for  attorney  general,  to  succeed  John  P.  Stockton,  and  he  was  unanimously 
confirmed  by  the  senate  on  the  8th  of  that  month.  His  term  will  expire  on 
April  5,  1902,  and  his  salary  is  seven  thousand  dollars  a  year. 

The  attorney  general  has  been  a  director  of  the  Camden  Safe  Deposit 
and  Trust  Company  since  its  organization,  in  1873,  '^'''d  he  is  the  president 
of  the  West  Jersey  Title  and  Guaranty  Company,  a  position  he  has  occupied 
since  its  formation. 


JARVIS  WANSER. 


The  well  known  commandant  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Home  at  Vine- 
land  is  Colonel  Jarvis  Wanser,  who  during  the  civil  war  "donned  the  blue" 
and  aided  in  suppressing  the  rebellion  in  the  south.     His  pleasant  manner. 


5i6  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  TUP  PIRST 

genial  disposition  and  executive  abilit}'  well  ciualified  him  for  his  jaresent 
office,  and  its  duties  he  is  now  ably  discharging. 

The  Colonel  is  a  native  of  New  Brunswick.  Xew  Jersey,  his  birth  having 
occurred  on  the  30th  of  March.  1838.  The  name  is  of  Holland  Dutch  origin, 
and  the  family  was  established  on  Long  Island  at  an  early  day.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  were  Jarvis  and  Phoebe  (Pearsall)  Wanser,  and  the  former 
was  born  at  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  where  he  spent  the  early  part  of  his 
life.  For  a  time  he  engaged  in  business  as  the  proprietor  of  the  old  Fulton 
market  in  New  York  city,  and  subsequently  he  came  to  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jerse) ,  purchasing  a  large  farm  in  the  suburbs.  Subsequently  he 
owned  ami  managed  two  farms,  but  afterward  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
village,  where  he  conducted  the  Raritan  Hotel  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
prominent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  did  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  its  interests.  Both  he  and  his  wife  attained  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty  }ears.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  eight  children. 
William  H.,  now  deceased,  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  fruit  business 
in  New  York  city.  The  other  members  of  the  family  now  living  are :  Mary, 
Rachel,  John,  Eliza  and  Jarvis. 

Colonel  \\'anser.  of  this  re\'iew,  obtained  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  after  entering  upon  his  business  career  dealt 
quite  extensively  in  fruit,  using  five  wag'ons  in  the  sale  of  this  commodity. 
He  was  twenty-three  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted,  on  the  26th  of  August, 
1862,  for  three  years'  service,  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  being  assigned  to 
Company  H,  Fourteenth  New  Jersey  Infantry.  He  joined  the  army  as  a 
private,  but  meritorious  conduct  soon  won  him  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
orderly  sergeant  of  Company  F,  and  later  he  was  promoted  first  sergeant, 
second  lieutenant,  first  lieuteant  and  then  commissioned  captain  of  Company 
B,  Fourteenth  New  Jersey  Infantrj-.  On  the  ist  of  June.  1864.  at  Cold 
Harbor,  he  was  wounded  b}'  a  niinie  ball  in  the  knee  and  confined  in  the 
hospital  in  Alexandria,  Virginia,  for  three  months.  Later  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  and  assumed  command  of  his  company,  continuing  in  that  position 
until  the  close  of  hostilities.  He  participated  in  twenty' important  engage- 
ments, including  the  battles  of  South  Mountain,  Monocacy,  the  Wilderness, 
Cold  Harbor  and  Spottsylvania.  After  his  return  from  the  war  he  connected 
himself  with  Company  K,  of  the  Third  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Militia,  was 
made  its  captain,  major  and  colonel,  and  served  with  that  command  for  eight 
years. 

When  the  Confederacy  had  been  overthrown  Colonel  Wanser  returned 
to  New  Brunswick,  but  soon  afterward  was  appointed  steward  of  vhe  state 
prison  in  Trenton,  and  held  that  position  for  five  years.     Later  he  engaged 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEW  lERSEY.  517 

in  the  confectionery  business  at  Easton.  Pennsylvania,  and  thence  came  to 
Vineland,  where  he  has  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  insurance  business  for 
twenty-two  years.  In  1899,  upon  the  founding  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors' 
Home  at  Vineland,  he  was  appointed  commandant  and  is  now  capably  filling 
that  position. 

In  1857  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Colonel  Wanser  and  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Britton,  a  daughter  of  John  Britton,  of  New  Brunswick.  They  now  have 
two  children, — Albert  and  Frank.  The  former,  who  is  the  proprietor  of  a 
clothing  and  men's  furnishing  goods  store  in  Vineland,  married  Sarah  Stew- 
art, and  has  two  children, — Maria  and  Alvin.  The  younger  son  was  formerly 
in  the  folding  department  in  Washington,  D.  C.  but  is  now  associated  with 
his  brother  in  business.  He  married  Miss  \\'alman  and  has  a  daughter, 
Ruth. 

Colonel  Wanser  casts  his  ballot  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  advocates  of  the  organiza- 
tion, doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  growth  and  insure  its  success,  for 
he  believes  most  firmly  in  its  principles.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Lyon  Post, 
No.  10,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Vineland,  of  which  he  has  served  as  past  commander, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  business  affairs  have  been 
capably  conducted,  and  in  all  transactions  he  is  thoroughly  reliable  and  up- 
right. Upon  the  field  of  battle  he  displayed  marked  loyalty,  and  in  the 
days  of  peace  has  been  as  faithful  to  his  duties  of  citizenship  as  when  he  fol- 
lowed the  stars  and  stripes.  His  social  qualities  render  him  a  favorite  among 
all  classes,  and  he  well  deserves  mention  among  the  representative  citizens 
of  southern  New  Jersey. 


HENRY    F.    SICKLER. 


Henry  Eress  Sickler  is  one  of  the  most  influential  and  well  known  busi- 
ness men  of  Salem,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
as  a  brick  mason  for  many  years  and  has  built  up  an  enviable  reputation  as 
a  workman  of  skill.  Several  generations  of  the  family  have  made  their  home 
in  this  countv  until  the  name  has  come  to  be  associated  with  its  growth  and 
prosperity.  Three  Ijrothers  left  Germany  to  seek  a  home  in  the  broad 
prairies  of  America,  one  of  whom  located  at  Camden,  one  at  Friesburg,  and 
one  at  Gloucester.  The  brother  who  settled  at  Friesburg  is  the  one  to  whom 
our  subject  owes  his  name  and  indirectly  his  existence. 

John  Sickler  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  and  was  born  at  Fries- 
burg, where  he  afterward  followed  farming.  He  had  a  large  farm  of  hve 
hundred  acres  in  Piles  Grove  township  and  was  one  of  the  most  successful 


5i8  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

husbandmen  in  the  community.  lie  was  a  Democrat  and  the  family  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  wa.s  married  to  Hannah  Freas  and  had 
seven  children,  viz:  William,  a  farmer,  who  married  Catherine  Van  Meter 
and  died  in  Alloway,  leaving  four  children, — Isaac,  John,  Elizabeth,  and 
Mary  Ann;  Samuel,  who  died  young;  Henn.-,  the  father  of  our  subject; 
John,  who  married  Martha  Redrow  and  has  eight  children, — Nathan,  Wil- 
liam, Charles,  John,  Hannah,  Harriet,  Sarah  and  Mary;  Elizabeth,  the  fifth 
child,  married  John  McEwen,  a  wheelwright  of  Salem,  by  whom  she  has  five 
children, — John,  Elizabeth,  Ellen,  Rebecca  and  Mary;  Hannah,  who  mar- 
ried Enos  Reeves,  a  farmer,  and  has  four  children, — Enos,  William,  Anna 
and  Hannah;  Sarah  was  the  youngest  and  married  Richard  Ballanger,  a 
bricklayer  and  a  prominent  politician  of  Salem  who  at  one  time  served  as 
the  sherifY  of  the  county.  Their  children  are  Richard,  Fenwick,  Clement, 
John  and  Mary.  The  grandfather  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  was  sur- 
vived several  years  by  his  wife  who  reached  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

Henry  Sickler  was  born  in  1810  in  the  same  county  as  his  father  and  his 
son.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  and  carried  on  his  trade  for 
several  years  in  a  most  successful  manner.  He  acquired  a  considerable  prop- 
erty and  was  considered  a  most  successful  man  of  business.  He  purchased  a 
farm  which  he  operated  and  lived  on  a  number  of  years  at  Woodstown.  He 
was  public-spirited  and  took  great  interest  in  all  local  afifairs,  a  prominent 
worker  in  local  politics  and  contributed  in  no  small  way  to  the  success  of  the 
RepubUcan  ticket.  He  married  Miss  Hannah  Dickison,  by  wdiom  he  had 
three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  namely:  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
March,  1833,  and  is  a  brick  manufacturer  in  Salem :  he  married  Mary  Freas 
and  has  two  children;  Mary,  who  was  born  in  1837  and  married  Josiah 
Madeira,  a  horse  dealer  of  Woodstown :  they  have  two  children, — John  and 
George;  the  second  son  is  our  subject,  Henry.  The  father  died  while  yet 
a  young  man,  in  1838,  and  was  survived  almost  a  half  century  by  his  widow, 
who  was  called  to  her  reward  April  12,  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  William  Dickison,  who  also  was  a 
native  of  Piles  Grove  township  and  for  the  greater  part  of  his  life  a  farmer 
near  Woodstown.  He  married  I\Iar\-  Hall  and  reared  two  sous  and  two 
daughters,  namely :  Charles,  who  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
two  years  and  is  a  farmer  at  Shiloh :  he  married  Harriet  Bacon  and  has  three 
children, — Charles,  William,  and  JNIary:  William  was  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion;  Edward,  who  married  and  has  children,  and  is  a  farmer  in 
IStcKean  county,  Pennsylvania;  Hannah;  and  Achsah,  who  married  Allen 
Wallace   and   has   four   sons   and   four   daughters. — Edward,    Allen,   John, 


CONGRESSIOXAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  519 

Frank,  Achsah,  Rachel,  Sarah  Hannah  and  Alary.  The  grandfather  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

Henry  Freas  Sickler,  the  second  child  of  his  parents,  was  born  in  Woods- 
town,  this  county,  November  10,  1835.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
mother  for  several  years  and  then  went  to  Salem,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools.  After  leaving  school  he  took  charge  of  his  mother's  farm 
and  afterward  followed  the  same  occupation  for  a  year  or  more  in  the  state 
of  Ohio.  Retm-ning  to  New  Jersey  he  learned  the  trade  of  brickmason  and 
has  worked  at  that  business  continually  since.  He  learned  the  trade  of  the 
firm  of  French  &-  Sickler,  and  he  afterward  became  a  partner,  with  James 
E.  Dunham  and  Westl}'  Parker,  and  from  that  time  the  firm  was  known  as 
Dunham,  Pcirker  &  Sickler.  Mr.  Parker  afterward  withdrew  from  the  firm 
and  they  continued  as  Dunham  &  Sickler  for  twenty  years,  until  1887,  when 
the  partnership  was  dissolved.  He  did  work  all  through  this  state,  in  Dela- 
ware and  other  places,  and  has  erected  many  of  our  finest  public  buildings. 
He  employed  some  twenty  men  and  did  the  greater  part  of  the  work  in  this 
vicinity,  giving  to  it  his  personal  supervision.  One  of  the  most  prominent 
buildings  erected  by  him  is  the  Friends'  Hotel.  He  still  does  a  large  business 
and  possesses  considerable  property. 

January  i,  1861,  Mr.  Sickler  was  united  in  matrimony  to  Aliss  Anna 
Ward,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Ward,  farmers  of  Kirkswood,  Dela- 
ware. They  have  four  children:  Hannah,  born  May  29,  1864,  is  a  cashier; 
Margaret,  born  December  23,  1866,  was  married  in  1894  to  John  Radcliff. 
who  is  a  clerk  in  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  office  at  Camden,  but  whose 
residence  is  Salem.  They  have  one  child,  Henry  Ratcliffe;  Dora,  born 
April  29,  1872,  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Salem  and  resides  at 
home;  and  Elsie,  born  August  8,  1878,  is  a  Western  Line  operator  at  Salem 
and  resides  at  home.  Mrs.  Sickler  died  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years,  in 
1 88 1,  and  was  deeply  mourned  by  the  many  friends  who  had  been  drawn 
to  her  by  her  charming  personality  and  gracious  manner.  Mr.  Sickler  is 
a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Baptist  church,  is  a  Ivnight  of 
Pythias  and  servefl  as  councilman  for  the  first  ward. 


JOSEPH  MULFORD  BACON. 

Among  the  men  who  are  prominently  connected  with  the  business  inter- 
ests of  Salem,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  is  the  genial  agent  of  the  West 
Jersey  Express  Company  whose  name  appears  above,  and  whose  kindly  dis- 
position and  obliging  manners  ha\'e  made  him  a  universal  favorite.     He  is 


520  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  FIRST 

well  known  throughout  the  county,  this  city  having  been  his  birth  place 
September  i8,  1848.  Ilis  ])arents  arc  Smith  and  Elizabeth  (Freas)  Bacon, 
and  he  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Uriah  Bacon,  who  was  born  probably  in 
Long  Island  and  was  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  Uriah  Bacon 
was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  settled  in  Salem  county,  where  he  plied  his  craft. 
He  married  a  lady  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Dare,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren:  Joseph;  Hannah,  wife  of  Edward  Davis;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Davis;  and  Phoebe,  who  married  Sylvanus  Sheppard.  Uriah  Bacon  died  at 
Rhoadestown,  Cumberland  county,  this  state,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety- 
four  years.  He  had  a  brother,  Joseph,  who  fought  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  lost  his  life  in  the  Hancock  Bridge  massacre. 

Joseph  Piacon,  the  eldest  child  of  Uriah,  was  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject and  was  liorn  in  Rhoadestown,  Cumberland  county.  He  was  a  cooper, 
having  learned  the  trade  of  his  father,  and  followed  it  in  his  native  town. 
He  married  Jane  Mulford  and  reared  six  children:  John;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Charles  Peterson;  Jane,  wife  of  Jacob  Diver,  a  farmer;  Uriah,  Joseph,  and 
Smith,  the  father  of  our  subject.    He  was  sixty-five  years  old  at  his  death. 

Smith  Bacon  was  also  a  native  of  Rhoadestown,  where  he  attended  the 
district  schools.  Leaving  school  he  determined  to  become  a  sailor,  and  for 
many  years  sailed  on  the  merchant  vessels,  later  taking  charge  of  a  brig  that 
plied  between  Philadelphia  and  the  West  Indies  and  owned  by  the  Aliner 
Harvey  Company,  of  Salem.  He  afterward  gave  up  the  sea  and  spent  his 
last  days  in  this  city,  where  he  died  when  about  seventy  years  old.  He  was 
a  Democrat  in  his  politics.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Freas,  was  sixty  years  of  age 
at  her  death,  and  was  the  mother  of  the  following  children:  Jane,  who  died 
when  a  child  of  five  or  six  years:  Hannah,  who  also  died  in  infancy;  Joseph 
M.,  our  subject;  Sarah,  who  died  young;  Henry,  a  sash  and  door  manufac- 
turer of  Philadelphia.  He  married  Hannah  Dowling,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children:  Bertha,  William  and  Mortimer;  Smith,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Peclrick  and  is  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  at  Salem;  James,  unmar- 
ried and  captain  of  a  tug-boat;  Lizzie,  who  died  in  childhood;  and  Charles, 
civil  engineer  with  the  Shiffler  Bridge  Company :  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Stretch  and  resides  at  Toledo,  Ohio;  and  Lizzie  F..  who  is  unmarried. 

Joseph  Mulford  Bacon  was  educated  in  the  public  school  and  in  that 
kept  l)y  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Salem.  After  his  school  days  were  ended 
he  was  with  his  father  for  twelve  years  in  the  merchant  service  and  visited 
many  southern  and  New  England  ports.  This  was  an  advantage  not 
afforded  many  young  men  and  he  enjoyed  it  to  the  full,  but  was  not  so 
well  pleased  with  the  life  that  he  cared  to  make  it  his  permanent  employ- 
ment, and  accorclingh-  he  turned  his  attention  to  other  lines.     For  nine  vears 


CONGRESSIOXAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  521 

he  was  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  in  Salem  and  was  then  appointed 
agent  for  the  West  Jersey  Express  Company,  in  1887,  and  has  continued  in 
that  capacity  ever  since  making  many  friends  for  the  company  by  liis  uni- 
formly courteous  and  obliging  attentions. 

October  15,  1872,  Mr.  Bacon  was  united  in  matrimony  with  Miss  Mary 
S.  Colley,  a  daughter  of  Henry  D.  Colley,  a  carpenter  of  Salem,  New  Jersey. 
She  was  one  of  four  children,  namely:  Sewell  H.;  Mary  S.;  Georgianna, 
wife  of  Thomas  W'hitelock;  and  Maggie  S.,  wife  of  William  Bloemer.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bacon  are  the  parents  of  five  children :  Frank,  a  compositor  in 
the  Mail  &  Express  office  of  New  York  City:  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons 
of  the  Re\-olution;  Maggie,  deceased;  George,  a  student;  Jennie,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  and  Elsie,  at  school.  Mr.  Bacon  was  at  one  time 
city  recorder  of  Salem.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  an  honor- 
able, upright.  Christian  gentleman.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Liberty 
Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle. 


WILLL\M   D.   DUFFIELD. 

William  D.  Duffield,  the  popular  superintendent  of  John  Wyeth  & 
Brothers'  Malt  Works,  of  Woodbury,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  is  a 
son  of  Henry  F.  and  Adaline  B.  (Lee)  Duffield,  and  was  born  in  Hurffville 
township,  this  county,  June  30,  1866.  Both  parents  were  of  English  descent, 
the  first  member  of  the  Duffield  family,  Nathan,  coming  from  that  country  at 
an  early  day  to  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  where  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  His 
children  were  Aralonase;  Nathan;  Henry  F. ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  W. 
H.  Smith,  of  Cedarville,  Cumberland  county;  Hannah,  who  married  Henry 
M.  Conover,  of  the  same  locality;  and  Lydia,  the  wife  of  Alartin  Corson  of 
Bridgeton,  this  state. 

Henr}'  F.  Duffield  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  on  his  father's  estate, 
where  he  grew  up  and  became  a  prosperous  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  was  inured 
to  the  hardships  of  pioneer  farm  life  in  his  youthful  days  and  received  only 
a  limited  education,  the  facilities  for  learning  being  of  the  most  meager  and 
primitive  description.  He  died  August  2j.  1879,  after  a  useful  and  well  spent 
life,  and  is  survived  by  his  widow,  who  makes  her  home  in  this  city.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Adaline  B.  Lee  and  the  children  born  of  their  union  were 
James  Lee.  who  married  Jenette  Dorff;  William  D.,  our  subject;  and  Her- 
bert R.,  married  to  Bertha  C.  Stewart.     The  Lee  familv  came  from  Derljv- 


522  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

shire,  England,  in  1818  and  settled  in  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey, 
whence  the  oldest  son,  Samuel,  about  the  year  1820  moved  to  Michigan, 
where  he  remained.  His  sisters,  five  in  number,  moved  to  Atlantic  City  and 
conducted  a  boarding-house,  which  was  afterward  converted  into  a  hotel, 
popularly  known  as  the  "Mansion  House,"  which  remained  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  family  until  the  past  year  (1899),  when  it  was  sold.  The  only 
survi\-ing  member  of  this  family  is  Julia,  who  resides  at  Haddonfield,  this 
state. 

William  D.  Duf¥ield  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  county,  and  after  completing  his  studies  engaged  with  the  \\'yeth 
Brothers  Company  as  the  foreman  of  their  Malt  Extract  Works.  On  the 
resignation  of  the  superintendent,  in  1895,  he  was  promoted  to  that  position, 
and  still  performs  the  duties  of  that  important  office  in  an  efficient  and 
satisfactory  manner.  By  his  gentlemanly  and  courteous  manner  he  made 
many  friends  for  the  establishment,  while  his  judicious  management  of  the 
plant  displays  a  keen  business  mind.  He  was  married  at  Bridgeton,  this 
state,  November  27,  1889,  to  Martha  J.  White,  a  daughter  of  William  H. 
and  Ellen  T.  White,  of  that  city.  Three  children  have  been  sent  to  brighten 
their  hearthstone:  Grace  D.,  born  April  i,  1891:  Lee  W.,  born  March  17, 
1893;  and  Mabel  J.,  born  June  17,  1894. 

They  are  attendants  of  the  Kemba!  Memorial  IMethodist  Episcopal 
church  and  liberal  contributors  to  that  organization.  Mr.  Duffield  is  a 
member  of  Star  of  Bethlehem  Lodge,  No.  190,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  Philadelphia;  Woodbury  Council,  No.  31.  Senior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics,  of  which  he  is  an  ex-councilor  and  three  times  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  state  organization;  a  member  of  Minnetonka  Tribe,  No.  199, 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  of  Woodbury,  of  which  he  is  a  past  sachem, 
and  has  represented  that  order  in  the  great  council  two  terms.  He  is  a  man 
of  genial  good  nature  and  very  popular  among  his  acquaintances. 


L.  M.  HALSEY,  M.  D. 


Dr.  L.  M.  Halsey,  a  practicing  physician  and  a  prominent  political 
worker  of  W^illiamstown,  New  Jersey,  is  a  native  of  Swedesboro,  this  state, 
his  birth  having  occurred  there  September  17.  1858.  His  father,  Luther  F. 
Halsey,  was  a  native  of  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  son  of  Abram 
Halsey,  who  was  a  native  of  Orange  county.  New  York,  and  a  son  of  Luther 
Halsey.  The  Halsey  family  originally  came  to  America  from  Wales,  and 
the  Doctor  now  has  in  his  possession  the  certificate  of  membership  in  ihc 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  523 

society  of  the  Cincinnati,  given  to  Luther  Halsey,  his  great-grandfather. 
It  is  signed  by  George  Washington  as  president  and  General  Knox  as 
secretary,  and  bears  date  May  24,  1774.  Luther  Halsey  was  a  captain 
on  the  staff  of  General  George  Washington  and  loyally  aided  in  achieving 
independence  for  the  American  colonies.  Four  of  his  sons  were  clergymen. 
Abraham  Halsey,  one  of  the  number,  was  the  founder  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  at  Eighteenth  and  Arch  streets, 
and  from  that  city  he  removed  to  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
labored  for  forty  years  in  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church.  He  died  in 
1867.  His  brother  Job  was  a  professor  in  the  Allegheny  Theological  Semin- 
ary, at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  pastor  of  a  church  at  Norris- 
town,  Pennsylvania,  for  forty  years.  Luther,  another  brother,  was  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 

Luther  F.  Halsey,  the  Doctor's  father,  was  born  October  28,  1833,  was 
graduated  in  Rutger's  College,  and  later  in  the  Jefiferson  College,  at  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania.  After  leaving  college  he  spent  one  year  in  Europe, 
where  for  a  time  he  was  a  student  in  a  university.  He  also  served  as  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  British  fleet,  at  the  bombardment  of  Sevastopol,  Russia.  He 
finally  located  in  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey,  in  1857,  and  at  the  breaking 
out. of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861,  he  was  made  assistant  surgeon  in 
the  Second  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  He  held  various  positions  in  the  army 
and  at  the  close  of  the  strife  he  was  the  chief  of  the  doctor's  staf?  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  and  practiced 
medicine  in  Swedesboro.  He  enjoyed  a  large  patronage  and  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  present  school  in  antiseptics.  It  was  he  who  organized  the 
Masonic  lodge  at  Swedesboro,  and  he  also  belonged  to  the  chapter  and  com- 
mandery  of  the  fraternity.  For  years  he  was  a  vestryman  in  the  Swede.-i 
Episcopal  church,  and  took  an  active  part  in  its  work.  For  many  years  he 
was  either  president  or  secretary  of  the  Gloucester  County  Medical  Society, 
in  which  he  took  great  interest.  He  died  in  1895.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Catherine  Murphy,  still  sur\'ives  him,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years.  Of  their  three  children  two  are  living — L.  M.  and  Joseph 
G.,  the  latter  of  Swedesboro. 

Dr.  Halsey  received  excellent  educational  privileges,  including  a  college 
course  at  Lehigh  University,  in  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  that  insti- 
tution was  graduated  in  1877.  He  is  also  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College, 
of  the  class  of  1880.  He  spent  one  year  in  a  hospital  in  Philadelphia  and 
passed  an  examination  to  enter  the  army,  but  finally  came  to  Williamstown 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  in  1880.  He  has  been  thor- 
oughly successful  in  his  calling  and  keeps  up  with  the  times  in  all  medical 


524  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

ideas,  theories  and  discoveries.  He  is  the  president  of  the  MecHcal  Society 
of  New  Jersey  and  has  twice  been  the  leading  officer  of  the  Gloucester  County 
Medical  Society.  For  several  years  he  has  been  making  a  special  study  of 
auto-intoxication  and  the  development  of  chemical  poison  in  the  human 
economy.  Two  years  ago  he  read  an  exhaustive  paper  before  the  State 
Medical  Society  on  this  subject  and  it  attracted  wide  attention.  His  private 
practice  is  large  and  he  attends  to  all  the  requirements  in  the  line  of  surgical 
work  of  the  branch  of  the  Reading  Railroad  upon  which  he  lives. 

In  political  matters  the  Doctor  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  prominent 
in  the  ranks  of  the  party.  He  has  been  mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  both 
branches  of  the  legislature,  but  has  no  great  political  aspirations.  He  was 
one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Williamstown,  is  now  past 
master  and  is  a  member  of  the  chapter  at  Vineland  and  the  commandery 
at  Camden.  On  the  ist  of  May,  1884,  he  married  Alice  L.,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  J.  F.  Bodine,  and  their  home  is  a  ver}'  pleasant  and  hospitable  one. 

But  few  men  within  llic  state  have  enjoyed  as  successful  a  career  as  Dr. 
Halsey,  save  perhaps  his,  father.  Both  obtained  thorough  educational  train- 
ing for  the  special  line  of  work  which  they  expected  to  follow  through  life, 
hence  when  they  began  practice  they  were  well  equipped  for  their  pro- 
fessional duties.  Success  in  all  lines  comes  only  through  hard  work  and 
study,  and  especially  is  this  true  in  the  medical  profession.  To  be  a  success- 
ful physician  and  surgeon  at  the  present  time  one  must  be  well  educated  at 
the  beginning  of  his  career  and  must  keep  thoroughly  abreast  with  modern 
progress  by  reading  and  study;  and  this  Dr.  Halsey  has  done. 


NATHAN  W.  LIPPINCOTT. 

Washington  said  that  agriculture  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  useful  but 
also  one  of  the  most  honorable  callings  to  which  man  can  devote  his  ener- 
gies; and  the  same  is  as  true  to-day  as  when  uttered  by  the  greatest  of 
American  heroes.  Nathan  Wright  Lippincott  is  numl)ered  among  the 
representative  farmers  of  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester  county,  and  is 
successfully  cultivating  a  large  tract  of  land,  his  labors  bringing  to  him  a  de- 
sirable income. 

He  was  born  in  Piles  Grove  township,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  No- 
vember 17,  1 861,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  Y.  and  Priscilla  (Wright)  Lippin- 
cott. His  grandparents  were  Samuel  and  Flannah  Lippincott.  natives  of 
Salem  county,  the  former  born  January  12,  1785,  and  the  latter'on  the  5th  of 
October,  1780.     In  their  family  were  four  children:  Anna  F.,  who  was  born 


CONGRESSIOXAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEV.  525 

March  27,  1812,  and  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Robbins,  of  Woodstown,  New 
Jersey;  Nathan  Y.,  who  was  bom  September  2,  1814,  and  died  November 
2,  1881 ;  Samuel  M.,  who  was  born  September  8,  1816,  and  resides  in  Woods- 
town,  New  Jersey;  and  Georg-e,  l)orn  September  4,   1819. 

Nathan  Y.  Lippincott  spent  the  days  of  his  youth  in  the  county  of  his 
nati\-ity.  and  having  arri\-ed  at  years  of  maturity  was  married,  on  the  14th 
of  April,  1842.  to  Mary  C.  Borton,  by  whom  he  had  the  foUowing  children: 
Ellen,  the  wife  of  Edwin  Taylor,  of  Auburn,  New  Jersey;  George,  a  resident 
of  Swedesboro;  Henry  R.,  who  is  living  in  Atlantic  City;  Amanda  P.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  months;  Edwin  W.,  a  resident  of  Woodstown,  New 
Jersey:  Franklin,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  and  Emma,  deceased 
wife  of  William  Haines.  The  mother  of  this  family  having  passed  away,  the 
father  was  again  married,  Miss  Priscilla  M.  Wright  becoming  his  wife  on 
the  6th  of  February,  1861.  Their  children  are:  Nathan  W. ;  Mary  C,  the 
wife  of  Nathan  Watson,  a  farmer  living  near  Auburn,  New  Jersey;  Walter, 
Louisa  and  one  other  son,  who  died  in  childhood;  and  Priscilla  and  Phoebe 
Ann,  twins,  the  former  the  wife  of  James  Harker,  of  Auburn,  New  Jersey, 
and  the  latter  the  wife  of  John  Sithens,  of  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey. 

Nathan  W.  Lippincott  pursued  his  education  in  the  various  schools  at 
Laurel,  Illinois,  Piles  Grove,  Auburn,  Swedestown  and  Mickletown. 
Throughout  his  business  career  he  has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  La 
1892  he  purchased  his  present  farm  and  since  1893  has  made  his  home 
thereon,  devoting  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  garden  produce  and  to 
dairy  farming.  He  is  very  successful,  finding  ready  sale  for  his  products, 
which,  being  of  excellent  quality,  command  the  highest  market  price. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1883,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Lippincott  and  Miss  Fannie  M.  Sithens.  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
A.  (Shimp)  Sithens,  of  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester  countv.  Seven  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  namely:  Laura  S.:  Emiline,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  months:  Leona,  Hannah  E..  Alice  P..  Frances  and  Alvan 
G.  Mr.  Lippincott  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
and  socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen 
and  the  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  since 
1895.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  His  labors  have 
been  successfully  directed  along  well  defined  lines,  and  thus  has  he  worked 
his  way  upward  until  he  has  left  the  ranks  of  the  many  and  stands  amono- 
the  successful  few,  being  accounted  one  of  the  leading  and  substantial 
farmers  of  his  section  of  the  state. 


526  nJOURAl'JUC.lL  HISTORY  OF  TlUl  FIRST 

D.  C.  WOOD. 

A  wortliy  representative  of  the  agricultural  interests  is  D.  C.  Wood,  of 
Glenloch,  who  owns  and  cultivates  a  farm  of  eighty-five  acres.  This  land 
he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  its  fields  being  well  tilled, 
its  buildings  kept  in  good  repair,  and  everything  about  the  place  being  neat 
and  thrifty  in  appearance.  In  his  farming  methods  Mr.  Wood  is  progres- 
sive and  practical  and  is  therefore  justly  numbered  among  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  community. 

He  was  born  in  this  locality,  January  28,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Gerard 
Wood,  whose  birth  occurred  here  and  who  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Wood,  a 
native  of  Woodbury,  New  Jersey.  The  original  American  ancestors  came 
from  England  and  took  up  their  abode  in  Woodbury  Creek,  where  the  town 
of  Woodbury  now  stands.  Samuel  Wood  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  had  some  strange  experiences  during  that  epoch  of  our  coimtry's  history. 
Gerard  Wood  was  a  member  of  the  home  guard  of  1812.  By  occupation  he 
was  a  farmer  and  by  his  industry  and  perseverance  he  won  a  very  creditable 
success.  His  political  support  was  given  to  the  Democracy  and  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  freeholders  and  as  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature. A  leading  citizen,  he  exerted  a  marked  influence  in  public  afTairs  and 
commanded  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  In  his  re- 
ligious belief  he  was  connected  with  the  Society  of  Friends  and  in  that  faith 
died  in  1884.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah  Wills,  was 
a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Wills,  of  Woodbury,  and  died  in  183 1.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  living:  D.  C.,  of  this 
review;  Daniel  W.,  of  Philadelphia:  and  Emeline,  the  wife  of  Rich  Marshall, 
of  Camden,  New  Jersey. 

During  his  youth  D.  C.  Wood  received  but  limited  educational  privileges, 
attending  the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  for  only  a  short  time. 
His  training  at  farm  labors,  howe\er.  was  not  meager,  for  at  an  early  age 
he  began  to  follow  the  plow  and  has  since  devoted  his  energies  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  addition  to  his  home  farm  he  cultivates  sixty  acres  of 
land  that  belongs  to  his  son-in-law,  and  not  only  raises  the  grains  adapted 
to  this  climate  but  is  also  engaged  in  making  butter.  He  was  married  to 
Hannah  Hudson,  a  daughter  of  William  Hudson,  of  Glenloch,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  children:  Henry  B.,  who  is  living  near  his  father; 
Charles  H.,  at  home;  and  Sarah  W.,  the  wife  of  S.  Ed.  Bateman,  an  agri- 
culturist. 

Mr.  Wood  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Democratic  party  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  ^,27 

the  day.  He  has  held  all  the  township  offices  and  in  1879  was  elected  a 
freeholder  for  a  three-years  term.  He  belongs  to  the  Grange  and  is  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  No  movement  calculated 
to  advance  the  educational,  social,  moral  or  material  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity seeks  his  aid  in  vain,  and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  and 
valued  citizens  of  the  communitv. 


ADRIAN  PAUL  LOCKE. 

Adrian  Paul  Locke,  of  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey,  was  born  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  George  M.  Hall,  in  Woolwich  township,  Gloucester  county, 
New  Jersey,  January  21,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Lawrence  and  Anna  Marie 
(Paul)  Locke. 

He  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm,  attending  the  public  schools 
in  winter  and  in  summer  assisting  in  the  farm  work,  and  until  his  marriage 
remained  a  member  of  the  home  circle,  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
farming  operations.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Hanson- 
ville  Station,  which  he  at  first  rented  and  afterward  purchased,  and  where 
he  resided  until  1897,  when  he  removed  to  Swedesboro.  The  following 
year,  1898,  he  sold  his  farm  and  since  then  has  carried  on  agricultural  oper- 
ations on  one  of  Elijah  Bowers'  farms.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Lakeside 
Land  Company,  of  Swedesboro,  and  is  stockholder  in  the  Heat,  Light  and 
Power  Company,  of  this  place  and  in  various  ways  has  shown  himself  to  be 
a  public-spirited  man,  interested  in  the  progressive  moves  made  in  his  town. 

Mr.  Locke  was  married  January  20.  1881,  to  Miss  Anna  H.  Gaskell,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  B.  Gaskell,  of  Swedesboro;  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children :  Constance  Blanche  and  Estella  Gaskill. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Locke  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  board 
of  Woolwich  township,  and  as  such  has  done  much  to  promote  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican  and  his  religious  creed  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  is  a 
vestryman  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church. 


HARRY  C.  SUTTON. 


Harry  C.  Sutton  was  born  in  Red  Lyon,  Lancaster  county,  Delaware, 
August  22,  1849,  ^"cl  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Daws  (Massey) 
Sutton.  The  name  is  of  English  origin.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Joseph  Sutton,  passed  his  early  life  in  Philadelphia,  whence  he  came 


528  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

to  Cape  May  county,  here  devoting  his  energies  to  farming.  His  political 
views  were  in  harmony  with  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party.  In  religious 
belief  he  was  a  Methodist,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  church 
and  holding  many  offices  therein.  His  children  were  Samuel,  a  wealthy 
man,  who  married  and  reared  a  family  in  the  west;  Henrietta,  the  wife  of 
William  Chislon,  a  teacher  who  died  in  Frankfort,  Philadelphia;  Eliza,  the 
wife  of  Reuben  Tomlin,  a  sea  captain;  Sabilla,  the  wife  of  Thomas  HofYman, 
a  farmer  at  West  Creek.  Cape  !vlay  county;  Charles,  who  resided  in  Cape 
May  city;  and  Joseph.  The  father  of  these  children  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years  and  the  mother  when  eighty  years  of  age. 

Joseph  Sutton  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia  and  died  in  August,  1896,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  In  addition  to  farming  he  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  the  stage  line,  making  his  home  at  Tuckahoe.  Of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  he  was  a  consistent  member.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth D.  Massey  and  they  became  the  parents  of  several  children;  Emma  T., 
the  wife  of  Thomas  R.  Brooks;  S.  W.  Golt,  the  wife  of  ^lathew  Golt;  Mary; 
Joseph,  who  married  Sophia  Candy,  by  whom  he  has  six  children:  Bessie; 
Delia;  Susie;  Katie;  Emeline;  Daws,  who  is  the  overseer  of  a  gravel 
business;  and  Kate  H.,  the  wife  of  Clark  P.  Smith,  a  paper-hanger  of  Atlantic 
City,  by  whom  she»has  two  children, — Clarence  and  Leroy.  The  sisters  in 
this  family  are  excellent  business  wortien.  Two  of  them,  Mrs.  Brooks  and 
Mrs.  Golt,  are  now  successfully  conducting  popular  hotels  of  Cape  May,  the 
former  the  Carrollville  House,  and  the  latter  the  Ebbitt  House,  while  Mrs. 
Kate  H.  Smith  is  the  proprietor  of  a  dry-goods  store  in  Atlantic  City. 

Harry  C.  Sutton,  whose  name  heads  this  review,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town  and  further  continued  his  studies  in  Smyrna, 
Delaware.  Later  he  worked  on  a  farm  and  afterward  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Adams  Express  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  On  severing  his  connection 
with  that  corporation  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  West  Jersey  Railway 
Company,  serving  as  a  brakeman,  baggage-master  and  conductor  for 
eighteen  years.  He  aftenvard  engaged  in  the  operation  of  the  hack  line 
and  was  thus  engaged  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  December 
14,  1899.  He  became  the  owner  of  considerable  property,  which  he  acquired 
entirely  through  his  own  efforts. 

Mr.  Sutton  was  united  in  marriage  to  -\Iiss  Nettie  Powell,  a  daughter 
of  Colonel  C.  R.  Powell,  and  they  had  three  children, — Cornia  B.,  Edward 
M.  and  Bertha  D.  The  son  is  engaged  in  house  and  sign  painting,  as  the 
head  of  the  Ocean  City  House  &  Sign  Painting  Company,  and  is  doing  a 
large  and  profitable  business.  He  entered  upon  his  industrial  career  l)efore 
attaining  his  majority  and  has  become  the  leader  in  his  line  in  his  com- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  529 

munity.  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Sutton  was  a  stalwart  Republican  from 
the  time  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  for 
two  years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  council  of  Ocean  City.  In  his  re- 
ligious connections  he  was  a  Methodist.  Indolence  and  idleness  were  utterly 
foreign  to  his  character,  and  the  industry  which  has  ever  been  the  salient 
featm'e  of  his  business  career  broueht  to  him  a  well  merited  success. 


CHARLES  WILSON. 


Charles  Wilson,  who  is  a  leading  farmer  of  Woolwich  township,  Glou- 
cester county,  was  born  January  15,  1854,  in  a  log  cabin,  the  only  habitation 
at  that  time  on  the  present  site  of  Vineland,  Cumberland  county.  New 
Jersey.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Ellen  J.  (Lawrence)  Wilson,  natives  of 
Ireland.  The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  and  a  lumberman,  carried  on  the 
latter  business  on  a  large  scale,  and  his  death  occurred  ]\Iarcli  25,  1896. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  in  Franklinville,  New  Jersey.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eleven  children,  of  whom  the  following  record  is  given:  Robert  J. 
is  a  lumberman,  residing  in  Franklinville,  New  Jersey;  Mary  married  the 
Reverend  George  S.  Campbell;  Mattie  L.  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  .Wilson 
Arsdale  and  resides  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania;  Charles;  Ellen  J.  married 
Franklin  B.  Haines,  of  Medford,  New  Jersey;  Rachel  A.  is  deceased;  Thomas 
K.  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Margaret  C.  died  when  two  years  old;  Vic- 
toria C.  married  Henry  B.  Shields,  a  draughtsman  in  Cramp's  shipyard, 
Philadelphia;  Thomas  C.  is  a  farmer  in  Franklinville,  New  Jersey;  and  James 
M.  is  a  member  of  the  Brooklyn  Bridge  Squad  of  New  York  police. 

Charles  Wilson  passed  his  boyhood  on  the  farm,  attending  school  during 
the  winter  months,  and  in  summer  performing  the  numerous  duties  which 
fall  to  the  lot  of  a  country  lad.  In  1874,  when  only  twenty  years  of  age, 
he  began  farming  on  his  own  account  on  the  place  which  he  now  owns,  and 
which  he  purchased  in  1896.  It  contains  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres, 
sixteen  acres  of  which  are  in  good  timber,  and  is  located  near  Russell's  mills. 
Mr.  Wilson  employs  the  most  improved  methods  of  agriculture,  and  his 
farm,  outbuildings,  etc.,  show  evidence  of  vmtiring  industry  and  skillful 
management. 

On  March  10.  1874,  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Annie  A., 
a  daughter  of  Ephraim  Dunham,  of  Monroeville,  New  Jersey,  and  four 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely:  Thomas  L.,  who  assists  his  father 
on  the  farm;  Mabel  C,  who  married  Edward  Black,  and  has  two  children. — 
Harrv  L.  and  Mabel  C. ;  C.  Howard  and  Ethel  Ray.   Mr.  Wilson  is  a  member 


530  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican 
party,  was  elected  freeholder  in  1897,  and  has  also  been  overseer  of  roads 
for  several  years,  and  many  good  roads  in  the  vicinity  of  Swedesboro  are 
largelv  due  to  his  care  and  knowledge  of  road  construction. 


CHARLES  H.  RUTHERFORD. 

No  soldier  on  the  field  of  battle  is  called  upon  to  perform  more  heroic 
service  than  are  the  brave  men  connected  with  the  life-saving  stations,  nor 
do  the  inspiring  strains  of  martial  music  encourage  them  in  their  efforts. 
Battling  with  the  wind  and  waves,  their  lot  is  one  demanding  at  times  the 
greatest  exertion'  as  well  as  braver)-,  and  he  who  wears  the  uniform  of  a 
soldier  is  no  more  entitled  to  the  praise  and  gratitude  of  his  fellow  men 
than  he  whose  service  is  with  a  life-saving  crew.  Such  a  position  is  occupied 
by  Charles  Henry  Rutherford,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  Cape  May 
station  as  surfman  No.  2  for  twenty-two  years. 

His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  Cape  May  county,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Lower  township.  June  12,  1846,  his  parents  being  William  and 
Jane  W.  (Foster)  Rutherford.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Rutherford, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  whence  he  came  to  America  in  1812.  locating  at  Cold 
Spring,  Cape  May  county.  He  was  a  butcher  by  trade,  but  aftenvard  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  at  Cold  Spring,  where  he  carried  on  a  busi- 
ness amounting  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  annually.  He  also  specu- 
lated in  real  estate  to  some  extent  and  built  and  sold  a  number  of  cottages 
in  Cape  May.  He  was  likewise  interested  in  the  lumber  business,  in  the 
manufacture  of  lime  and  was  the  owner  of  three  vessels, — two  sloops  and  a 
schooner,  the  Jane  McOuinn.  He  possessed  indefatigable  energ\'  and  per- 
severance, and  although  he  entered  upon  his  business  career  in  a  humble 
capacity,  receiving  but  fifty  cents  per  day,  he  steadily  worked  his  way  upward 
to  a  position  of  afifluence.  He  was  three  times  married,  his  first  union  being 
with  Mary  Rutherford,  a  lady  of  English  descent,  and  their  children  were 
Jane,  Ann,  Francis,  William  and  John.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Sarah  McKean.  and  he  at  length  had  a  third  wife.  In  his  political  views 
John  Rutherford  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious  relations  belonged  to  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Cold  Spring,  in  which  he  serv'ed  as  an  elder  for  many 
years.  Charitable  and  benevolent,  he  was  ver\-  generous  to  the  poor  and 
needy  in  his  county,  and  was  very  popular  among  all  classes.  His  death 
occurred  in  1871,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  and 
the  community  thereby  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  and  honored  citizens. 

William  Rutherford,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Cold  Spring 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  531 

in  1827  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Lower  township.  Cape  ^lay  county, 
where  he  owned  and  cultivated  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  also  took 
contracts  for  building  roads  and  sea  walls  and  was  an  enterprising,  energetic 
man.  Like  his  father,  he  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democracy,  and 
in  religious  faith  was  a  Presbyterian,  his  membership  being  in  the  church 
of  that  denomination  at  Cold  Spring.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
he  manifested  his  patriotism  by  serving  for  nine  months  in  Company  H, 
New  Jersey  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and 
Williamsburg.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private  but  was  mustered  out  as 
a  commissary.  Always  fond  of  horses,  and  knowing  much  about  their  dis- 
eases, he  acted  as  a  veterinary  surgeon  during  his  connection  with  the  army. 
When  only  twelve  years  of  age  he  rode  running  races  at  Tuckahoe  and  was 
always  the  possessor  of  some  fine  specimens  of  the  noble  steed.  William 
Rutherford  married  Jane  W.  Foster,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children.  Charles  is  the  eldest;  George,  a  farmer,  wedded  Mary  Teel,  and 
their  children  are  Elmer,  Ida  and  Eli;  William,  an  agriculturist  living  at 
Cold  Spring,  and  now  serv-ing  as  the  assessor  of  Cape  May  county,  married 
Mary  Russell  and  has  two  daughters,^ — Clara  and  Emma;  Clara,  the  fourth 
child  of  the  father's  family,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  P.  Henry,  the  leading 
painter  of  Cape  May.  and  their  children  are  Charles.  Jane  and  Bessie;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  widow  of  Daniel  Godfrey,  a  seafaring  man.  who  died  leaving 
a  son,  Ralph.  Rhoda  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Horam.  an  upholsterer  and 
paper-hanger  of  Atlantic  City;  Jane  was  twice  married,  her  present  husband 
being  Alfred  Driver,  a  retired  cigar  manufacturer,  of  Philadelphia;  Frank, 
a  farmer  of  Lower  township,  married  Kate  Finos,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children, — Ethel,  Eva  and  Emma, — and  after  her  death  he  wedded  Amelia 
Springer,  by  whom  he  has  two  children ;  Sarah  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six 
years;  Anna  is  the  wife  of  William  Allen,  a  butcher:  and  Joseph  married 
Anna  Nolan,  and  they  have  a  son,  named  Charles.  William  Rutherford, 
the  father  of  these  children,  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years,  but 
the  mother  is  still  living,  now  in  her  seventy-fourth  year. 

■  Mr.  Rutherford,  of  this  review,  pursued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools  of 
Cape  May  county  until  eighteen  years  of  age  and  then  began  business  on 
his  own  account,  following  farming  and  fishing.  When  twenty-two  years 
of  age  he  purchased  a  fami  of  fifty  acres,  and  has  since  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits.  His  land  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  improved 
with  all  the  modern  accessories  and  conveniences  found  upon  a  model  farm 
of  this  period.  Interspersed  with  his  labors  in  the  fields  is  his  duty  as  a 
member  of  the  life-saving  crew.  For  twenty-two  years  he  has  performed 
this  service  both  bravely  and  well.    He  participated  in  the  rescue  in  the  ever 


532  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

memorable  blizzard  on  the  12th  of  March,  1888,  and  has  taken  part  in  many 
other  rescues  with  the  crew,  which  now  consists  of  one  keeper  of  the  station, 
James  W.  Eldredge,  and  seven  surfmen. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1869,  Mr.  Rutherford  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Louise  Bennett,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Bennett,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  eight  children :  Ocie,  the  wife  of  James  Cail,  proprietor  of  a 
boarding-house  in  Philadelphia;  Lida,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Van 
Winkle,  a  surfman  of  the  life-saving  crew;  Loretta,  the  wife  of  Lafayette 
Miller,  a  merchant  by  whom  she  has  a  son,  Lafayette,  Jr.;  Cora,  Edith,  Lida 
and  Albert  and  Susie,  twins. — all  at  home.  Mr.  Rutherford  and  his  family 
attend  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Cold  Spring,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 
In  his  political  afifiliations  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his  business 
interests. 


FREDERIC  A.  REX. 


Frederic  A.  Rex,  Esq.,  one  of  the  brightest  and  keenest  lawyers  of 
Camden,  was  born  in  Norristown,  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  20,  1850.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Lentz)  Rex,  who 
was  a  fanner  in  moderate  circimistances,  had  eight  children.  Frederic  A. 
being  the  youngest. 

Frederic  A.  Rex  spent  his  early  boyhood  on  the  home  farm.  When 
about  thirteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  Central  high  school  of  Philadel- 
phia, at  which  he  graduated,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.,  Immediately  upon 
leaving  school  he  obtained  the  position  of  clerk  in  the  National  State  Bank 
of  Camden,  where  he  remained  five  or  six  years,  and  then  established  a  mer- 
cantile business  of  his  own  in  the  same  city.  While  building  up  a  pros- 
perous trade,  Mr.  Rex  gave  his  free  time  to  the  study  of  law,  for  which  he 
was  remarkably  qualified  by  nature.  On  being  admitted  to  the  bar  as  an 
attorney  in  1888,  he  sold  out  his  store,  opened  an  ofifice  at  25  Market  street, 
and  thereafter  devoted  himself  to  the  legal  profession.  He  was  admitted 
as  a  counsellor  in  the  June  term  of  1891.  At  this  time  he  moved  to  the 
ol^.ce  which  he  now  occupies,  at  106  Market  street,  where  he  attends  to  a 
very  large  practice. 

!\Ir.  Rex  has  been  retained  in  some  of  the  most  famous  cases  of  the 
day.  He  was  associated  with  the  counsel  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
in  the  land  condemnation  proceedings  arising  from  the  construction  of  the 
Delaware  river  bridge.     In  addition  to  his  natural  quickness,  his  experi- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  533 

ence  as  a  bank  clerk  and  merchant  gives  him  an  advantage  over  his  fellows 
who  have  followed  the  ruts  of  professional  study. 

Actively  interested  in  politics,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Club 
of  Camden.  He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  nine  years,  city 
comptroller  for  three  years,  and  clerk  of  the  district  court  for  a  like  period. 
At  present  he  is  the  treasurer  of  the  board  of  education,  which  office  he 
filled  for  ten  years. 

In  1877  Mr.  Rex  was  married  to  Louisa,  a  daughter  of  'William  Few- 
Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  two  children, — -William  F.  and  Elizabeth 
R.  William  F.,  who  has  recently  graduated  at  the  Penn  Charter  school  of 
Philadelphia,  read  law  under  his  father's  instructions,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  with  his  father.  Mr.  Rex  belongs 
to  Camden  Lodge,  No.  15,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  No.  293.  both  of  Camden.  Though  not  a  church 
member,  he  contributes  liberally  to  the  support  of  various  religious  enter- 
prises.    Mrs.  Rex  is  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  . 


GEORGE  W.  JESSUP. 


George  W.  Jessup,  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Camden,  New  Jer- 
sey, where  he  does  a  large  business  as  a  conveyancer  and  real-estate  dealer, 
was  born  at  Jessup's  Mills,  Gloucester  county,  this  state,  December  18, 
1849,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Beulah  (Hilliman)  Jessup.  Both  his  father, 
George  ,W.,  Sr.,  and  his  paternal  grandfather,  James  Jessup.  were  natives 
of  Gloucester  county.  The  last  named,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
resided  in  that  section  all  his  life.  His  wife,  Abigail  Fisher,  lived  to  the 
age   of   eighty-five. 

Their  son,  George  W.  Jessup,  Sr.,  was  brought  up  to  farming,  and  in 
due  time  came  into  possession  of  the  old  homestead.  Most  of  his  life  was 
devoted  to  agricultural  work,  but  for  a  short  time  he  was  the  landlord 
of  the  Woodbury  Hotel.  He  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-six  years. 
His  wife,  Beulah,  was  a  daughter  of  Theophilus  Hilliman,  an  old  settler  in 
Gloucester  county,  whose  family  numbered  six  children.  She  is  still  liv- 
ing, being  now  seventy-two  years  old,  and  resides  Avith  her  grandson, 
Charles  G.  She  is  a  niemljer  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  Clarks- 
burg, as  also  was  her  husband. 

George  W.  Jessup,  the  direct  subject  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood 
at  home,  and  later,  for  the  usual  elementary  studies,  took  a  two-years' 
course  at  Bridgeton  x\cademy.     He  began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in 


534  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

a  dry-goods  store  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  two  years.  His 
next  employment  was  in  the  service  of  Smedley  Brothers,  hatters,  of  the 
same  city,  with  w  hom  he  stayed  for  a  like  period.  About  this  time  he  mar- 
ried; and  shortly  afterward  he  went  to  York,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year  and  a  half,  following  the  same  occupation.  In  1877  he 
returned  to  Philadelphia  and  accepted  a  position  as  a  traveling  agent  for 
C.  H.  Gardner  &  Company,  large  hat  dealers  there.  He  was  "on  the  road" 
eleven  years,  during  which  time  he  visited  every  state  in  the  Union,  besides 
making  two  trips  to  Europe.  He  then  resigned,  and  in  1890  went  into 
the  real-estate  business  in  this  city,  in  company  with  George  H.  Fairfield. 
Subsequently  purchasing  Mr.  Fairfield's  interest,  he  took  his  son.  Charles 
G.,  into  partnership,  December  i,  1895:  and  the  firm  has  since  been 
known  under  the  name  of  G.  W.  Jessup  &  Son. 

Mr.  Jessup  has  been  interested  in  some  of  the  largest  real-estate  tran- 
sactions in  Camden  in  recent  years.  He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
the  Masonic  Temple  on  Market  street,  in  which  he  has  an  office  and  of 
which  he  was  secretary  three  years.  Among  the  many  large  and  impor- 
tant sales  made  by  him  were  the  land  for  the  site  of  the  Sixth  Regiment 
Armory  and  that  for  the  new  First  Methodist  chiirch,  the  E.  N.  Cohn  and 
the  Markley  property,  the  George  H.  Munger  property,  and  the  property 
for  the  Camden  Electric -Light  &  Heating  Company.  Mr.  Jessup  has  been 
the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trade  since  1892,  and  he  is  also  a  director 
and  the  vice-president  of  the  Provident  Building  &  Loan  Association.  In 
politics  a  Republican,  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs;  and  with 
a  watchful  eye  for  the  interests  of  the  people  he  was  among  those  who  were 
instrumental  in  efifecting  a  reduction  of  the  city  tax  assessments  from 
thirty-three  million  dollars  to  twenty-five  million  dollars,  which  latter  fig- 
ure has  obtained  for  the  last  three  years. 

Mr.  Jessup  was  first  married  in  1873  to  Abigail  ^I.  Bishop,  by  whom 
he  had  one  son,  Charles  G.,  who  is  now  in  business  with  him.  His  first 
wife  dying  in  Januar}^  1874,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-four,  he  married  for 
his  second  wife  Lizzie  M.  Hogan,  of  Mount  Holly,  who  died  in  1883.  aged 
twenty-seven  years.  On  June  11,  1895,  ^I''-  Jessup  maiTied  his  present 
wife,  who  was  before  marriage  Miss  Esther  A.  Carr..  She  is  a  native  of 
Trenton,  and  daughter  of  the  late  Cliarles  Carr.  Her  father  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Trenton,  where  at  the  time  of  his  deatii  he  was  the  proprietor 
of  the  Phoenix  Iron  Works. 

Mr.  Jessup  is  a  Mason  in  good  standing,  being  a  member  of  Camden 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  No.  15.  of  Camden;  and  he  also  belongs  to  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  In  religion  he  is  an  Episcopalian, 
bein";  a  communicant  of  St.  Paul's  church  of  Camden. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  535 

HENRY  W.  MITCHELL. 

Henry  William  Mitchell,  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Swedesboro,  New 
Jersey,  was  born  in  Woolwich  township,  the  township  in  which  he  now 
lives,  March  30,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Zern)  Mitchell. 
Henry  Mitchell  was  born  in  this  same  township  in  181 1,  and  died  here 
under  a  surgical  operation  in  1876.  His  father,  William  MitcheU,  came 
from  England  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Woolwich  township. 
William  Mitchell's  children  were  Samuel,  Charles,  Henry,  William,  Edith 
and  another  daughter,  who  removed  to  Illinois  in  early  life.  John  Zern, 
who  was  a  major  of  militia  for  many  years  after  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
kept  a  hotel  in  Bridgeport,  New  Jersey,  was  our  subject's  maternal  grand- 
father. The  children  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Zern)  Mitchell  were  George 
Zern,  of  Swedesboro;  Henry  William,  whose  name  introduces  this  article; 
Susan,  who  married  Joseph  B.  Green  of  Salem  county;  John  B.,  a  farmer 
in  Atlantic  county.  New  Jersey;  Charles  F.,  a  painter  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania; and  Edith,  who  married  Robert  Moore  of  Swedesboro,  New 
Jersey. 

Henry  \\'.  ]\Iitchell,  the  direct  subject  of  this  review,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  has  followed  farming  all  his  life. 
He  came  to  Swedesboro  about  twenty  years  ago  and  occupies  the  substan- 
tial home  built  by  his  father.  He  still  continues  farming  by  tenant,  and  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Swedesboro  Heat,  Light  &  Power  Company. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  married  December  10,  1865,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Black 
Hurf,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Hurf,  of  Woolwich  township.  Frater- 
nally, Mr.  Mitchell  is  identified  with  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Grange,  and 
politically  is  a  Republican. 


THOMAS  S.  GOSLIN. 


This  is  tlistinctively  an  era  in  which  the  young  man  is  active  and  prom- 
inent. This  is  true  of  the  young  man  in  every  field  of  endeavor  or  enter- 
prise. Gray  hairs  are  honorable,  but  they  no  longer  imply  a  monopoly  of  all 
worthy  knowledge  and  ability.  The  history  of  building  in  the  last  decade 
emphasizes  this  fact.  A  majority  of  the  successful  architects  and  builders 
are  of  the  younger  generation  of  active  men.  Their  ideas  are  fresh  and 
virile  and  they  push  forward  work  in  hand  with  a  dash  and  celerity  that 
are  a  wonder  to  the  old  school  buiklers.     One  of  the  niost  prominent  young 


536  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

contractors  and  builders  in  New  Jersey  is  Thomas  S.  Goslin,  of  Woods- 
town,  who  has  erected  at  Woodstown,  Salem  and  other  near-by  places, 
structures  that  are  fitting  monuments  to  his  enterprise  and  ability. 

Thomas  S.  Goslin  was  born  at  Richmondtown,  Piles  Grove  township, 
Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  August  5,  1869,  a  son  of  Richard  and  Susan  C. 
(Stratton)  Goslin,  who  married  in  1847.  The  American  family  of  Goslin  is 
of  English  extraction  and  the  name  was  formerly  spelled  Gostling.  Richard 
Goslin  began  in  1839  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  at  Woodstown.  Later, 
when  he  had  acquired  some  little  experience  at  his  trade,  he  located  at 
Richmondtown,  where  he  became  prominent  as  a  citizen  and  is  still  living, 
quite  advanced  in  years.  An  industrious  man  of  mature  judgment,  he  has 
taken  a  leading  part  in  the  business  and  public  affairs  of  the  village  and 
won  an  enviable  reputation  for  every  quality  that  makes  for  uprightness  and 
good  citizenship.  His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  and  Mary 
Stratton,  of  Mullica  Hill,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey.  Thomas  Stratton 
was  a  prominent  farmer  and  lived  until  his  eightieth  year.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  but  a  short  time.  The  Strattons  have  constituted  one  of  the 
representative  families  of  Salem  county  for  more  than  a  hundred  years. 
Following  are  some  items  of  interest  concerning  those  children  of  Richard 
and  Susan  C.  (Stratton)  Goslin  who  are  living:  Samuel  lives  at  Glassboro, 
Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Foster  of  Rich- 
mondtown; George  lives  at  Woodbury,  Gloucester  county;  Laura  is  Mrs. 
Henry  Champion;  Priscilla  married  Frank  Renter  of  Daretown,  Salem 
county;  and  Charles  C.  lives  at  Richmondtown.  Five  of  their  children  are 
dead :    Joseph,  Emma,  Rebecca,  Sally  and  Minnie. 

Thomas  S.  Goslin  gained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  York- 
town.  Salem  county,  and  from  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  applied  himself 
in  the  intervals  between  school  terms  to  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  carpenter's  trade  under  his  father's  able  instruction.  In  1876.  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years,  he  went  to  Ashm.ore,  Montgomery  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  for  a  time  in  the  employ  of  R.  J.  Dobbins,  a  con- 
tractor who  erected  some  of  the  Centennial  exposition  buildings  in  Fair- 
mount  Park.  Philadelphia.  The  experience  he  obtained  in  connection  with 
those  important  contracts  was  a  valuable  and  a  memorable  one.  Returning 
to  his  home  in  New  Jersey  he  continued  his  school  course  during  the  winter 
seasons  and  worked  at  his  trade  tlie  remainder  of  the  year,  until  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  He  then  went  back  to  Montgomery 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  employed  at  carpentering  for  three  years, 
first  by  George  Goodfellow  &  Son.  contractors  and  builders,  later  by  Samuel 
G.  Cripps.     Severing  his  relations  with  Mr.  Cripps,  he  returned  to  Rich- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  537 

mondtown  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  assisted  liis  father  in  liis  buildinfj  opera- 
tions. 

In  1849  ^'Ii'-  Goslin  took  up  his  residence  in  Woodstown  and  soon  estab- 
hshed  himself  as  a  contractor  and  builder.  His  first  important  contract 
was  for  the  erection  of  the  city  building  at  Woodstown,  a  model  in  design 
and  workmanship  which  has  attracted  much  attention  from  builders  and 
municipal  authorities  in  all  the  country  rotmd  about.  Among  his  numerous 
other  successful  enterprises  were  several  modern  residences  in  Woodstown 
and  Salem.  The  residences  of  Henry  Guest,  Smith  Hewitt,  Charles  Horner, 
L.  E.  Mack,  Thomas  Newkirk,  Gray  Brothers,  Joseph  Barton  and  John 
Wiggins  are  especially  conspicuous  as  fine  examples  of  Mr.  Goslin's  work. 

Mr.  Goslin  is  a  man  of  much  public  spirit  and  takes  great  interest  in  the 
growth  of  Woodstown  and  the  prosperity  of  her  people.  There  is  no  move- 
ment for  the  advancement  of  the  public  interests  which  commends  itself 
to  his  good  judgment  as  practical  and  adequate  that  does  not  command- 
his  active  and  generous  co-operation.  He  is  a  well  known  Odd  Fellow  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Ridgley  Association  Baptist  church. 

He  was  married  in  1891  to  Hattie  E.  Loucson,  a  daughter  of  Ira  B.  and 
Mary  Loucson,  and  has  two  children. — Claire  and  H.  Foster  Goslin.  Mrs. 
Goslin's  family  were  formerly  residents  of  Salem  county.  Her  mother  died 
in  1884,  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  Her  father  is  now  engaged  in  business 
in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loucson  had  four  children:  Millie,  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Gibson;  Lizzie,  the  wife  of  Thomas  U.  Clark;  Hattie  E.,  wife  of 
Thomas  S.  Goslin;  and  Joseph,  who  married  Bertha  Bee,  of  Woodstown. 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  WARE  ELDREDGE. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Cape  May  county,  and  certainly 
one  of  the  most  invaluable  to  the  state  and  government,  as  well  as  tO' 
humanity  in  general,  is  Captain  Eldredge.  who  is  at  the  head  of  the  Cape 
May  Life  Saving  Station,  which  as  is  well  known,  is  eclipsed  by  few  of  our 
Atlantic  stations  in  importance,  on  account  of  the  position  it  occupies  on 
this  dangerous  coast.  Owing  to  the  heroism,  coolness  and  rare  good  judg- 
ment exercised  by  the  captain  and  his  devoted  men,  scores  of  lives  have 
been  saved  during  the  past  decade  and  a  half,  and  their  names,  though 
already  written  indelibly  in  the  hearts  of  grateful  thousands,  deserve  to  be 
placed  upon  the  rolls  of  the  good  and  great  of  our  nation. 

His  family  has  been  identified  with  Cape  May  county  for  several  genera- 


538  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

tions,  his  paternal  great-grandfather,  William  Eldredge,  coming  here  from 
Long  Island,  New  York,  in  his  boyhood.  When  he  arrived  at  manhood 
he  became  a  pilot  on  Delaware  Bay,  but  his  home  was  at  Cape  May.  He 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  took  great  interest  in  local  afifairs,  but 
death  claimed  him  when  he  was  in  his  early  prime,  but  thirty-two  years  of 
age.  He  had  married  Hannah  Corson,  and  their  children  were  Enoch, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two;  William,  who  died  during  the  cholera 
epidemic  of  1832;  John  and  Thomas,  pilots;  Mary,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Richard  Hughs;  Mrs.  Hannah  McCray;  Judith,  who  was  the  second  wife 
of  Richard  Hughs;  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Richardson.  The  parents  were  Presl)y- 
terians.  and  were  thoroughly  conscientious,  worthy  people. 

Thomas  Eldredge,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared 
at  Cape  May,  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  and  for  a  period  was  employed 
on  the  East  End  Light  ship.  He  was  a  stanch  Whig,  at  one  time  was  a 
member  of  the  militia,  w-ith  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  home  was  at  Cold  Spring,  where  he  held  membership  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  was  called  to  his  reward  when  in  his  fifty-third 
year,  but  his  wife  lived  to  be  sixty-two.  She  was  a  Miss  Deborah  Ware  in 
her  girlhood.  Their  daughter  Harriet  became  the  wife  of  a  carpenter. 
Colonel  H.  W.  Sawyer,  who  won  his  title  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  famed 
on  account  of  his  terrible  experiences  in  Libby  prison,  where  he  was  held 
a  captive  for  over  a  year,  finally  being  condemned  to  death,  and  reprieved 
only  at  the  last  moment  before  the  time  set  for  his  execution.  Louisa,  the 
second  daughter,  married  Francis  K.  Duke,  a  carpenter,  who  enlisted  in  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  and  was  the  captain  of  a  company  of  Delaware  men  for 
three  years.  Joseph.  Judith  and  Thomas,  the  next  of  the  family,  died  when 
young.  Thomas,  the  second  of  the  name,  is  a  pilot  on  the  Delaware,  at 
present  located  at  West  Cape  May.  Deborah  married  Reuben  Hoffman, 
a  carpenter  of  the  place  last  named;  and  Judith  is  the  widow  of  Captain 
William  Hoft'man,  of  Cold  Spring. 

Daniel  C.  Eldredge.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Lower 
township,  this  county,  March  3,  1829,  and  was  educated  in  its  schools.  For 
more  than  forty  years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  building  and  contracting, 
also  conducting  an  undertaking  business,  and,  though  now  well  along  in 
years,  he  continues  in  the  last  named  occupation,  and  is  extensively  inter- 
ested in  real  estate  at  Cape  May.  For  years  he  was  the  leading  builder  and 
contractor  of  this  region,  affording  employment  to  as  many  as  thirty  hands 
during  the  busy  season.  Numerous  specimens  of  his  handiwork  are  to  be 
seen  throughout  this  locality,  and  among  others  he  built  the  Cape  May 
Point  light-house,  the  Baptist  church  and  Cape  May  House,  and  the  wing 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  539 

of  the  Cold  Spring  light-house,  also  many  fine  cottages.  Formerly,  he 
commanded  all  of  the  local  business  of  gravel  roofing,  also,  and  other  enter- 
prises have  received  his  attention,  with  profit  to  himself. 

As  a  citizen  he  is  justly  popular,  frecjuently  being  urged  to  accept  public 
offices.  He  is  serving  as  the  coroner  at  present,  having  been  elected  for  a 
second  temi,  his  time  to  expire  in  1900.  Besides  having  been  a  member 
of  the  township  committee  and  freeholder,  he  has  occupied  other  minor 
offices  with  credit,  and  has  been  a  lifelong  Whig  and  Republican.  For  a 
quarter  of  a  century  he  took  an  active  part  in  educational  affairs,  serving 
during  that  long  period  as  a  member  of  the  Cape  May  school  board,  and 
aiding  materiaUy  in  placing  the  school  system  upon  a  sound  basis.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  drafted  for  the  army  twice,  but  was  not  able  to  leave 
his  home  on  account  of  pressing  business  matters,  and  proved  his  patriotism 
in  other  ways  as  commendable.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  a 
Mason,  associated  with  Cape  Island  Lodge,  No.  30.  and  for  fifteen  years 
he  has  been  identified  with  Evening  Star  Lodge,  No.  65,  L  O.  O.  F.  For  a 
long  period  he  acted  in  the  capacity  of  a  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
with  which  he  holds  membership.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Hoffman,  a 
daughter  of  James  Hoffman,  a  ship-builder.  Their  eldest  child  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article,  and  the  others  are  :  Anna,  who  married  Joseph  Springer, 
of  Cold  Spring,  and  has  three  children — Mary,  Alice  and  Elsie;  Daniel  F.,  a 
carpenter,  who  married  Elizabeth  Stevens,  and  their  children  are  named 
Marion,  Charles,  Bessie,  Mary  and  Linda;  Clementine  is  unmarried  and  at 
home. 

Captain  James  W.  Eldredge  was  born  November  24,  1853,  at  Cape  May. 
After  completing  his  education,  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked 
with  his  father  for  three  years.  He  then  entered  the  government  life-saving 
service,  being  located  at  the  Cold  Spring  station  until  1885,  when  he  became 
connected  with  the  old  Cape  May  station,  which  was  built  in  1877.  A  new 
one,  with  every  modern  appliance  and  convenience  used  in  the  saving  of  lives 
in  peril  from  the  angry  sea,  was  erected  at  this  point  in  1896.  The  captain 
has  held  the  extremely  responsible  position  of  keeper  of  the  station  since 
1885,  and  now  has  seven  men  under  his  direction.  His  entire  service  in  this 
branch  of  governmental  philanthropy  covers  a  period  of  twenty-three  years, 
during  which  time  he  has  had  many  remarkable  experiences  and  terrible 
battles  with  wind  and  wave.  Never  in  the  history  of  this  station,  though 
there  have  been  seventy-four  casualties  between  September  25,  1883,  and 
September,  1899,  has  there  been  the  loss  of  a  life.  A  few  examples  may  be 
cited  of  the  heroic  work  performed  by  the  captain  and  his  sturdy  men :  On 
September  5,  1883,  a  vessel  bound  from  New  York  to  A^irginia  was  totally 


540  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

wrecked  near  here,  but  her  crew  was  saved;  the  Sallie  C.  Martin,  a  schooner, 
bound  from  Millville  to  New  York,  sunk  off  Cape  May,  a  total  loss,  but  the 
entire  crew  of  twenty-five  men  were  rescued;  a  vessel  was  observed  to  be  in 
great  danger  March  12,  1888,  some  six  miles  away  in  the  bay,  and,  after  a 
whole  night  of  desperate  struggle  in  reaching  it,  and  a  day's  hard  work  in 
saving  it,  the  feat  was  accomplished;  the  Susie  H.  Davis  with  her  crew  was 
saved  during  the  storm  of  March  — ,  1896;  the  English  steamer  Rector, 
bound  for  Philadelphia,  loaded  with  iron  ore,  was  wrecked  January  19,  1893, 
but  the  crew  was  saved;  the  two-masted  schooner,  Jacob  Duryea,  going 
from  Norfolk,  Virginia,  to  Atlantic  City,  was  drifted  ashore  January  7,  1S92, 
becoming  a  total  wreck,  though  the  crew  were  rescued  by  means  of  the 
breeches  buoy;  and  upon  the  20th  of  March,  1899,  the  Sarah  Ellen,  a  three- 
masted  schooner,  was  wrecked,  and  after  a  vigorous  effort  the  crew  were 
brought  safely  to  land.  These  are  only  a  few  of  the  numerous  cases  in  which 
the  efficiency  of  this  station  and  the  devotion  of  its  force  have  been  severely 
tried  and  not  found  wanting,  and  too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  Cap- 
tain Eldredge,  whose  fortitude,  sagacity  and  faithfulness  have  been  the 
means  of  the  saving  of  so  many  precious  lives  and  a  great  many  thousands 
of  dollars'  worth  of  marine  property. 

In  the  multiplicity  of  his  regular  duties,  the  captain  always  finds  time 
to  do  a  great  deal  for  his  fellow  men  on  land,  as  well  as  by  those  upon  the 
sea.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican,  casting  his  ballot  at  all  elections.  Reared 
in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyterian  church  he  inclines  towards  the  tenets  of  that 
denomination,  and  attends  the  services  of  that  church  when  his  duties  per- 
mit. 

The  marriage  of  Captain  Eldredge  and  Miss  I\Iary  Foster  was  solemnized 
August  24,  1872.  They  have  two  sons:  Samuel,  a  lawyer,  and  G.  B..  both 
of  Belford,  this  state.  The  yoimger  son  is  a  student  at  Princeton  College, 
and  is  preparing  himself  for  a  legal  career.  Mrs.  Eldredge  is  a  daughter 
of  Downs  E.  Foster,  who  has  been  in  charge  of  the  light-house  at  Cape  May 
for  the  past  twenty-two  years 


JOSEPPI  L.  RTCHMAN. 

The  venerable  gentleman,  now  deceased,  whose  name  appears  at  the  head 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Whig  Lane,  New  Jersey,  August  5,  1817,  and 
belonged  to  a  family  long  identified  with  this  section  of  the  country.  He 
was  a  son  of  Henry  Richman  and  a  grandson  of  John  Richman.  and  one 
of  his  ancestors,  Nehemiah  Richman,  was  a  participant  in  the  Revolutionary 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  541 

war.  Henry  Richman  was  a  farmer,  having  large  land  holdings,  and  was  a 
man  who  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He  died 
in  1824,  in  the  prime  of  life;  and  his  wife,  who  had  borne  the  maiden  name  of 
Sarah  Mulford,  and  was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  died 
in  1852.  She  was  twice  married  and  for  some  time  resided  in  Philadelphia. 
Of  her  nine  children,  Joseph  L.  Richman  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

With  his  mother  and  her  family  Mr.  Richman  of  this  review  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  city.  Later, 
returning  to  Salem  county,  he  resided  with  his  brother  on  a  farm  in  Upper 
Pittsgrove  township,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of  tanner.  In  185S 
he  engaged  in  farming  in  Pittsgrove,  about  a  mile  from  his  final  home,  and 
in  1866  located  upon  the  farm  which  was  the  place  of  his  residence  until  his 
death,  and  which  comprises  one  hundred  and  six  acres  of  fine  land.  Here 
he  successfully  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Richman  was  long  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  For 
years  he  was  an  elder  in  the  church  at  Woodstown,  and  for  forty-two  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  church  at  Daretown,  while  for  thirty-one  years  of  the 
time  he  served  as  one  of  its  elders.  While  he  was  never  active  in  politics,  he 
always  took  a  commendable  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  in  1864  and  1865 
served  as  the  township  assessor. 

In  his  married  life  Mr.  Richman  was  favored  beyond  the  average  man. 
He  was  married  February  14,  1841,  to  Miss  Jane  Van  Meter,  a  daughter  of 
James  Van  Meter,  of  Pittsgrove,  and  for  nearly  three-score  years  (until 
death)  their  lives  were  happily  blended  together.  To  them  were  given 
three  children,  namely:  James  P.,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Anna  L.,  the 
wife  of  D.  L.  B.  Peterson,  of  East  Orange,  New  Jersey;  and  Joseph,  who 
resided  near  his  father.  He  was  killed  October  18,  1899,  by  being  struck  by 
a  locomotive  on  the  Seashore  Railroad  at  Woodbury,  this  state.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Richman  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  wedding  February 
14,  1891,  at  Newkirk  Station,  entertaining  a  large  number  of  their  friends 
and  making  the  event  a  happy  and  memorable  one.  Mrs.  Richman  died  in 
February,  1899.  She  was  a  most  amiable  woman,  known  far  and  near  for 
her  many  deeds  of  kindness.  She  had  a  local  reputation  as  a  nurse,  and  in 
every  neighboring  home  where  there  was  sickness  she  was  always  welcome, 
her  bright  face  and  cheerful  words  bringing  sunshine  and  leaving  the  light 
of  hope  behind  long  after  her  departure.  Of  Mr.  Richman  it  may  be  said 
that  he  "grew  old  gracefully."  In  his  old  age  he  was  surrounded  with  all 
the  comforts  of  life,  and,  while  lately  bereaved  by  the  loss  of  his  devoted  wife, 
was  happy  in  the  companionship  of  his  many  friends.  He  died  December 
3.  1899.  after  a  short  illness. 


542  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

A.  WALTF.R  ROSEMAN. 

One  of  the  most  popular  and  esteemed  residents  and  enterprising  young- 
business  men  of  Cape  May  is  A.  Walter  Roseman,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  business,  in  real  estate  speculation,  and  is  the  captain  of  the  Hand  Bat- 
tery. He  was  born  in  the  city  which  is  still  his  home.  January  6.  1864,  his 
parents  being  Ellwood  F.  and  Harriet  W.  (Garrison)  Roseman.  The  family 
is  of  English  origin  and  was  probably  transplanted  in  America  at  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  this  county,  although  we  have  no  authentic  account 
of  its  establishment  on  the  soil  of  the  New  World.  The  grandfather.  George 
Roseman.  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  for  many  years  in  Cape  Alay. 
and  was  a  leading  citizen,  frequently  called  to  public  office. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Cape  May  Captain  Walter  Roseman  acquired 
his  preliminary  education,  which  was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  Penning- 
ton Seminary.  He  then  began  the  study  of  pharmacy  through  the  practical 
methods  of  service  in  a  drug  store.  He  was  first  employed  by  S.  T.  Ware 
and  later  secured  a  clerkship  in  the  service  of  the  firm  of  Marshall  &  Mecray. 
For  fifteen  years  he  has  been  associated  with  Dr.  James  Mecray  in  this 
business,  and  manages  one  of  the  most  popular  establishments  in  the  drug 
trade  in  the  county.  Other  interests  have  also  claimed  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Roseman,  who  some  years  ago  began  operations  in  that  safest  of  all  invest- 
ments— real  estate.  He  erected  fourteen  cottages,  stores  and  lodge  build- 
ings on  Washington  street,  and  is  still  the  owner  of  three  cottages,  including 
one  of  the  finest  residences  in  Cape  May.  His  real  estate  dealings  have 
brought  to  him  good  financial  returns,  and  as  a  result  he  is  the  possessor  of 
a  comfortable  competence. 

On  the  2ist  of  February.  1889.  Mr.  Roseman  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Alfaretta  Haynes,  a  daughter  of  A.  L.  Haynes,  of  Cape  May.  and  they 
now  have  two  interesting  children — Albert  W.  and  Harry  E.  The  parents 
have  a  large  circle  of  friends  in  Cape  I\Iay.  and  their  home  is  celebrated  for 
its  gracious  hospitality. 

Mr.  Roseman  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  to  which  position 
he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket,  after  a  vigorous  contest,  by  a  vote 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  the  total  number  of  votes  cast  being  two 
hundred  and  sixty-seven.  As  a  member  of  the  board  he  endeavors  to  up- 
hold the  issues  and  principles  upon  which  he  was  elected,  and  to  advance  in 
every  possible  way  the  usefulness  of  the  schools.  Such  men  have  done  much 
for  the  cause  of  education  in  this  community,  and  the  schools  of  Cape  May 
take  rank  with  the  best  in  the  state.  Mr.  Roseman  is  also  connected  with 
several  civic  societies,  being  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  543 

Workmen,  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  the  Imjiroved  Order  of 
Red  Men. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  now  the  captain  of  the  Henry  W. 
Hand  Battery,  consisting  of  thirty-seven  men  from  among  the  best  yonng 
men  of  Cape  Ma}-.  The  company  was  formed  with  the  expectation  of  en- 
tering the  United  States  service  in  the  late  war  with  Spain,  and  their  services 
were  offered  to  the  state  to  be  admitted  to  the  regular  state  guard;  but  as 
there  was  no  provision  for  light  artillery,  it  was  determined  to  equip  at  their 
own  expense.  This  was  done,  and  when  the  war  with  Spain  ended  they 
decided  to  continue  the  organization,  which  is  one  that  is  a  source  of  pride 
to  Cape  May.  Their  purpose  is  now  philanthropic  in  its  character,  and 
many  organizations  and  societies  have  received  from  them  substantial  aid. 
In  order  to  render  this  they  give  entertainments,  whereby  they  secure  the 
funds  to  assist  the  needy  ones.  Captain  Hand  is  the  favorite  commander 
of  the  company,  and  in  all  circles,  militars',  civic  and  social,  he  is  well  liked, 
being  of  a  very  genial  disposition  and  social  nature.  Obliging  and  cour- 
teous  in  his  commercial  business,  he  has  won  many  friends  through  the 
avenue  of  his  business  life,  and  wherever  he  is  known  he  is  held  in  high 
regard. 


WILLIAM  ISZARD. 


It  is  doubtful  whether  in  an\  country  other  than  ours  the  conditions  exist 
which  render  possible  such  achievements  as  America  has  witnessed,  and  the 
lives  of  such  men  as  Mr.  Iszard  should  serve  as  a  stimulus  to  the  youth  of 
the  land,  as  illustrating  what  may  be  accomplished  under  even  the  most  ad- 
verse conditions.  He  had  no  especial  advantages  in  boyhood,  but  he  marketl 
out  a  line  of  conduct  in  life  and  lived  up  to  it.  From  the  first  his  ambition 
was  an  honorable  one,  and  his  history  proves  conclusively  that  where  there 
is  a  will  a  way  may  be  found.  He  is  now  possessed  of  a  beautiful  home  in 
Woodbury,  a  good  income,  surrounded  by  a  happy  family,  and  what  he  has 
accomplished  in  the  business  world  has  been  done  solely  and  entirely  by 
honest,  unyielding  endeavor.  What  he  has  done  can  be  done  by  others,  and 
therefore  his  example  is  a  valuable  one. 

Mr.  Iszard  was  born  in  Glassboro;  where  he  now  makes  his  home,  his 
natal  day  being  November  22,  1835,  and  is  of  Swedish  Hneage.  His  grand- 
father, Gabriel  Iszard,  came  to  this  country  from  Sweden  accompanied  by 
his  brothers,  John  and  Ralph.  The  former  settled  in  Cape  May,  New  Jersey: 
and  the  latter  loyally  served  his  adopted  country  as  a  general  in  the  war  of 
181 2  in  which  he  was  killed.     Gabriel  Iszard  took  up  his  abode  in  Clayton 


544  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

and  became  one  of  the  leading  and  influential  citizens  of  that  community. 
He  was  called  "honest  Iszard,"  so  scrupulously  exact  was  he  in  all  dealings. 
His  integrity  was  above  question  and  his  reputation  unassailable.  He  served 
as  assessor  when  his  township  embraced  several  counties,  extending  from 
the  ocean  to  the  Delaware  river.  He  married  Abigail  Ledden,  a  lady  of  Eng- 
lish descent  and  a  very  devout  woman  who  took  an  active  part  in  church 
work.  In  their  family  were  twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  were  reared  to 
maturity  and  the  youngest  being  sixty-four  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
mother's  death  in  her  eighty-fifth  year. 

Joseph  Iszard,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Clayton,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  by  occupation  was  a  farmer.  He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
was  judge  of  the  court  for  a  number  of  years.  In  matters  of  public  moment 
he  took  a  deep  interest  and  supported  all  measures  for  the  general  good.  He 
opposed  the  granting  of  licenses  for  selling  liquor  in  hotels  and  for  torty 
years  he  was  a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  doing  all 
in  his  power  to  advance  its  growth  and  upbuilding.  His  death  occurred  in 
1865,  and  the  community  thereby  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Swope  and  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Swope,  of  Williamstown,  who  was  of  German  descent.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1893.  In  the  family  were  four  children,  but  Dolly  is  now  deceased.  Those 
still  living  are  Jacob,  a  physician  of  Glassboro;  Ira,  who  is  living  in  Glass- 
boro;  and  William.  The  father  was  a  very  enterprising  man,  and  his  splendid 
business  and  executive  ability  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  large  estate.  Like 
his  father,  he  was  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause  and  his  name 
headed  the  subscription  lists  for  the  building  of  many  churches.  His  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  many  years  and  her 
many  admirable  qualities  \\on  her  the  regard  of  all. 

Mr.  Iszard  of  this  review  acquired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  coun- 
try schools  and  afterward  pursued  his  education  in  a  school  near  Albany, 
New  York.  In  1844,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  began  teaching  near 
Bridgewater,  and  for  a  time  followed  the  same  profession  in  Alloway  and  in 
Cape  May  Court  House.  He  was  then  numbered  among  the  most  able  edu- 
cators of  Clayton  for  nineteen  years  and  was  county  examiner  for  twenty 
years.  He  was  never  absent  from  his  duties  but  two  half  days  throughout 
the  long  period  of  his  connection  with  the  Clayton  schools,  and  under  his 
direction  the  educational  interests  of  the  town  were  greatly  improved  and 
advanced.  The  records  show  that  thirty  thousand  pupils  have  been  under 
his  instruction,  and  who  can  measure  the  influence  which  he  has  had  upon 
them,  for  the  impressions  of  youth  are  ever  the  strongest,  and  those  made  by 
a  conscientious  as  well  as  talented  teacher  are  ver\-  marked  indeed. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  545 

Since  his  retirement  from  educational  circles,  Mr.  Iszard  has  devoted  his 
energies  to  the  management  of  his  property  interests  and  investments.  He 
has  erected  a  number  of  residences  in  Clayton  and  Glassboro,  and  in  1894 
removed  to  the  latter  place.  He  owns  seventeen  houses  here,  and  has  alto- 
gether thirty-six  residences,  variously  located  in  Camden,  Clayton,  Glass- 
boro and  Philadelphia.  In  addition  he  owns  six  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
farming  lands,  and  from  his  property  interests  he  derives  a  good  income.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank  in  Glassboro,  and  from 
the  beginning  has  been  a  member  of  its  board  of  directors.  His  earnings 
have  been  very  judiciously  invested,  so  that  his  capital  is  constantly  increas- 
ing, and  thus  has  he  risen  to  a  position  of  afHuence. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1875,  Mr.  Iszard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Eliza  Cooke,  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  three  children:  Harriet,  at  home;  and  Ralph  and  Walter,  who  are 
studying  medicine.  Mr.  Iszard  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Clayton  and  secretary  of  the  Sunday-school  Association  of  that  place,  and  ot 
his  township.  He  was  also  a  trustee  of  the  church  in  Clayton,  and  he  is 
now  the  secretary  of  the  Sunday-school  Association  in  Glassboro.  He  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church  in  its  various  departments,  and  is 
a  public-spirited  citizen  who  withholds  his  support  from  no  movement  that 
is  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 


JOHN  NEWCOMB. 

With  one  exception  John  Newcomb  is  the  oldest  resident  of  Wildwood, 
Cape  May  county,  and  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  was  reared  in  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  near  Med- 
ford,  and  at  a  very  early  age  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  since  which  time 
he  has  depended  entirely  upon  his  own  efforts.  His  success  has  come  to  him 
as  the  result  of  untiring  application,  ambition,  industry  and  enterprise.  He 
became  a  road  contractor  and  built  eighteen  miles  of  road  from  Newfield  to 
Atlantic  City,  employing  over  two  hundred  men  in  its  construction. 

He  lived  for  some  years  in  Vineland  and  in  Millville,  then  coming  to 
Wildwood,  and  on  the  14th  of  November,  1882,  he  arrived  on  the  site  of  the 
town  which  has  since  been  his  home.  There  was  but  one  man  in  the  future 
village  at  that  time.  Here  he  engaged  in  teaming,  grading,  etc.  His  in- 
dustry and  honesty  soon  won  him  a  good  name  and  gained  him  a  very  liberal 
patronage.  The  well-constructed  streets  of  Wildwood  and  most  of  the  beau- 
tiful lawns  and  parks  are  his  handiwork,  for  he  possesses  much  skill  as  a  land- 

H-II 


546  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

scape  gardener  and  has  done  much  to  improve  and  beautify  the  town.  When 
he  first  came  to  W'ikhvood  lie  had  the  management  of  the  West  Jersey  Ex- 
press, and  later  was  the  proprietor  of  the  Aldine  Hotel,  which  he  sold  in 
1898.  As  the  years  have  passed  he  has  made  judicious  investments  in  real 
estate  and  now  owns  a  number  of  houses  and  other  valuable  property  in 
^^"ildwood.  Aside  from  the  work  which  he  has  done  here,  he  opened  all 
of  the  streets  in  Holly  Beach  and  was  also  one  of  the  builders  of  that  town. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  public  matters  and  for  sixteen  years  he 
has  had  charge  of  all  street  work  in  Wildwood  and  has  held  the  office  of 
street  commissioner.  He  also  engages  in  the  management  of  a  fine  livery 
stable,  the  only  one  on  the  island  on  which  W'iidwood  is  located,  and  does 
all  the  teaming  and  hauling  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Newcomb  was  united  in  marriage  to  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Brad- 
ley, and  they  have  one  daughter,  Minnie.  Theirs  is  one  of  the  beautiful 
homes  for  which  W'ikhvood  is  noted  and  for  its  hospitality  it  is  justly  cele- 
brated. ^Ir.  Newcomb  is  a  member  of  Cape  Island  Lodge,  No.  30,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  at  Cape  May,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  United  Workmen. 
Politically  he  is  connected  with  the  Democracy,  and  religiously  with  the 
Baptist  Church  of  \\  ildwood  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  a  trustee.  His 
life  demonstrates  the  fact  that  success  is  not  a  matter  of  genius,  but  is  the 
otitcome  of  resolute  will,  sound  judgment  and  unflagging  industrj'. 


T.  M.  TAGGART. 


J.  M.  Taggart.  of  \\'illiamstown,  was  born  in  Deer  Creek,  Pennsyl- 
vania, December  31,  1841,  and  is  of  Scotch  lineage;  but  his  ancestors  were 
driven  from  Scotland  during  the  persecution  of  the  Protestants  of  that  land, 
and  James  Taggart,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  county  Antrim. 
Ireland.  The  branch  of  the  family  now  in  the  Emerald  Isle  has  in  its  pos- 
session a  Bible  that  was  once  baked  in  a  loaf  of  bread  in  order  to  save  it 
from  being  destroyed  by  the  Catholics!  In  1836  James  Taggart  left  the 
land  of  his  nativity  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America,  taking  up 
his  residence  in  Allegheny  county.  Pennsylvania,  where  he  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer  and  in  his-  business  deal- 
ings was  very  successful.  In  1842  he  removed  to  the  homestead  farm  at 
Williamstown,  upon  which  our  subject  now  resides,  there  making  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1873.  He  married  Catharine  Murphy, 
who  was  born  in  countv  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  who  is  now  living  at  the  verv 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  547 

advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  There  were  two  children  in  the  family, 
but  one  has  passed  away. 

J.  M.  Taggart  attended  the  common  schools  of  Montgomery  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  throughout  his  life  has  been  connected  with  farming  in- 
terests. He  early  learned  to  handle  the  plow  and  to  harvest  the  crops,  and 
upon  his  father's  death  he  assumed  the  management  and  became  the  owner 
of  the  homestead  farm  of  sixty-two  acres.  This  he  has  placed  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  its  well-tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  labor  bestowed  upon  them. 

In  1875  Mr.  Taggart  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane,  a  daughter 
of  Robert  Tweed,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  they  have  four  children,  of  whom 
three  are  living, — James,  Robert  and  Kate, — all  at  their  paternal  home. 
The  family  attend  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  Mr.  Taggart  is  a 
faithful  member.  He  has  ser\'ed  as  one  of  its  elders  for  iifteen  years  and  is 
zealous  in  promoting  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  the  organization  with 
which  he  is  identified.  He  was  sent  as  a  commissioner  to  the  general  as- 
sembly of  his  church  at  Winona  Lake,  Indiana,  in  May,  1898.  He  takes 
quite  an  active  part  in  political  aflairs,  exercising  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  served 
on  the  election  board  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  township  committee. 


PETER  L.  VOORHEES,  A.  M.,  LL.  B. 

Peter  L.  Voorhees  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
successful  attorneys  of  Camden.  Admitted  to  the  bar,  he  at  once  entered 
upon  practice,  and  from  the  beginning  was  unusually  prosperous  in  everv 
respect.  The  success  which  he  attained  was  due  to  his  own  efTorts  and 
merit.  The  possession  of  advantage  is  no  guaranty  whatever  of  profes- 
sional success.  This  comes  not  of  itself,  nor  can  it  be  secured  without  in- 
tegrity, ability  and  industry.  Those  qualities  he  possessed  to  an  eminent 
degree,  and  he  was  faithful  to  every  interest  committed  to  his  charge. 
Throughout  his  life,  whatsoever  his  hand  found  to  do,  whether  in  his  pro- 
fessional or  private  duties,  or  in  any  other  sphere,  he  did  with  all  his  might 
and  with  a  deep  sense  of  conscientious  obligation. 

Mr.  Voorhees  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Blawenburg,  Somer- 
set county,  July  12,  1825,  and  was  the  second  son  of  Peter  and  Jane 
(Schenck)  Voorhees.  He  comes  of  illustrious  ancestry,  being  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Count  Albert  Van  Voor  Hees,  who  lived,  prior  to  1600,  in  "front 
of"  (voor)  the  village  of  Hess,  near  Ruinen,  Drenthe,  Holland.     His  son. 


548  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Stephen  Coerte.  emigrated  from  Holland  to  America  in  April,  1660,  and 
located  at  Flatlands,  Long  Island,  where  he  purchased  a  large  amount  of 
property,  paying  for  the  same  three  thousand  guilders,  which  was  a  fortune 
in  those  days.  His  great-grandson.  Peter  Gerritse  Van  Voorhees,  left 
Long  Island  in  1720  to  escape  the  payment  of  tithes  to  the  English  church, 
enforced  by  the  colonial  government,  and  settled  in  Blawenburg,  New  Jer- 
sey. One  of  his  descendants,  Peter  Van  Voorhees,  gave  his  land  to  his 
grandson  Peter,  at  the  same  time  ordering  his  slaves  to  be  emancipated. 
The  latter's  father,  Martin,  dropped  the  prefix  Van  from  the  surname.  He 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject.  The  father,  Peter  Voorhees,  was  born 
May  27,  1787,  and  was  married  March  2,  1809,  to  Jane  Schenck.  It  is  re- 
lated of  her  father.  Captain  John  Schenck,  one  of  the  patriots  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, that  in  December  1778  with  a  few  of  his  neighbors  and  a  very  scant 
supply  of  ammunition,  he  ambuscaded  the  British  ad\ance  guard  at  Rin- 
goes  and  drove  it  back  to  the  main  column. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  old  homestead  in  Blawen- 
burg, and  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  that  place.  On  attaining  his 
majority  he  chose  the  law  as  a  profession,  and  entered  the  office  of  Richard 
S.  Field  at  Princeton  as  a  student.  Subsequently  he  attended  the  law 
school  then  connected  with  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  where  he  was 
granted  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Laws.  In  Novemoer, 
185 1,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  the  following  year  located  in  Camden, 
where  he  continued  to  successfully  engage  in  practice  throughout  life.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  distinguished  attorneys  in  his  section  of  the  state 
and  was  considered  unimpeachable  authority  upon  questions  of  practice. 
Among  his  most  noted  cases  was  that  of  Black  versus  the  Delaware  & 
Raritan  Canal  Company,  involving  the  control  of  the  New  Jersey  railways 
now  operated  by  the  Pennsylvania  Company.  Mr.  Voorhees  was  opposed 
to  the  last  named  corporation,  and  was  so  successful  that  the  company  was 
compelled  to  procure  special  legislation  to  effect  its  purpose.  He  so  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  that  case  that  he  was  afterward  retained  as  counsel  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Company,  which  controlled  the  Camden  &  Amboy,  the 
West  Jersey,  and  the  Camden  &  Atlantic  Railroads.  The  Mickle  Will  case 
was  another  celeljrated  suit  in  which  Mr.  ^'oorhees  won  success  for  his 
clients. 

It  has  been  said  of  him:  "The  main  characteristic  of  his  professional 
eminence  was  his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  law.  Profoundly  versed  in 
its  principles  and  practice,  his  mind  was  a  storehouse  of  information  upon 
its  most  complicated  and  abstruse  questions.  The  diligence  with  which 
he  mastered  every  point  in  a  litigated  case  was  assisted  to  success  by  a 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  549 

wonderfully  retentive  memory  and  a  remarkable  power  of  application.  He 
was  an  authorit_v  upon  the  difficult  and  doubtful  intricacies  of  land  titles, 
and  some  of  his  most  creditable  victories  before  the  courts  were  won  in 
such  cases." 

In  addition  to  his  law  business  Mr.  Voorhees  served  as  the  president 
of  the  Camden  Safe  Deposit  &  Trust  Company,  a  director  of  the  AVest 
Jersey  Ferry  Company  and  manager  of  the  Cooper  Hospital. 

Mr.  Voorhees  was  married  October  16,  1855,  to  Miss  Anna  Finley 
Dayton,  a  sister  of  the  Hon.  William  L.  Dayton,  who  was  a  United  States 
senator,  United  States  minister  to  France,  and  the  nominee  for  vice  presi- 
dent on  the  national  Republican  ticket  in  1856.  Mrs.  Voorhees  died  in 
1880,  leaving  one  child,  Jennie  Dayton,  and  our  subject  departed  this  life 
November  28,  1895. 

Politically  Mr.  Voorhees  was  a  conservative  Repulilican  but  was  never 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  though  he  ser\'ed  as  city  solicitor 
of  Camden  one  year,  being  elected  by  the  Republicans  and  Democrats  in 
opposition  to  the  "Native  American"  party.  In  his  private  life  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  his  Christian  piety.  He  was  reared  in  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  but  in  1853  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  he  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  work 
of  the  First  church  of  Camden,  being  especially  active  as  a  teacher  in  the 
Sunday-school,  and  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  interest  those  under  his  charge 
and  insure  their  regular  attendance.  Plis  life  was  exemplary  in  all  respects 
and  well  worthv  of  emulation. 


WESTLEY  R.  WALES.  M.  D. 

Westley  R.  Wales,  M.  D.,  is  one  of  the  young  practicing  physicians  of 
Cape  May  county,  but  his  ability  is  not  limited  by  his  years  for  he  has  al- 
ready gained  a  prestige  that  might  well  be  envied  by  many  an  older  practi- 
tioner. He  resides  in  Cape  May,  which  is  the  city  of  his  birth,  his  natal 
day  being  October  21,  1869.  He  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Timothy 
Wales,  one  of  the  twenty  children  of  Ebenezer  Wales.  The  former  was 
said  to  be  a  man  of  excellent  common  sense  and  sound  judgment  and  jox'ial 
and  genial  in  disposition.  He  was  born  October  9.  1737.  and  at  various 
times  resided  in  Union,  Hebron  and  Bolton.  Connecticut.  He  married 
Sarah  Loomis  and  their  children  were  Elizabeth,  Timothy.  Roger,  Sarah 
and  Roxanna.  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Jabez  L.  White,  of  Bolton, 
Connecticut,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children:     Anna  L.   Bailey: 


550  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Anderson  Cook;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Williams; 
Roxanna;  Clarissa,  the  wife  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Ruggles,  United  States 
senator  from  Clarksville,  Ohio;  Jabez,  an  eminent  physician  who  married 
Emily  Ilammnnd;  George  Clinton  White,  who  was  the  president  of  White's 
Bank  at  BnfTalo,  New  York;  Sophronia,  the  wife  of  Chester  Strickland; 
Joel,  Royal  and  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Eli  Bentley  Wales  was  born  July  lo,  1798,  and  was  a  man  of  great 
energy  who  met  with  creditable  success  in  his  business.  He  served  as  judge 
and  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  his  community.  He  was  married  in  1818 
to  Sarah  H.  Hughes,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Hughes,  of  Cape  May,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Sallie,  who  was  born  in  1819. 
married  Downs  Edmunds,  and  their  children  were  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Edgar 
P.  Stiles;  Ti-yphonia  B.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  W.  Reeves,  a  lawyer  of  Phila- 
delphia; Eli,  who  is  holding  a  governmental  position;  and  N..  who  married 
Lydia  Crowell,  of  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  they  had  two  daughters,  Lillie 
and  Emma.  Belinda  J.,  the  second  of  the  family,  was  born  in  1822:  Har- 
riet B.,  born  in  1825,  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Young  and  had  six  chil- 
dren,— Sallie  B.,  Edmund  W.,  Joseph,  Brisley,  Mary  E.  and  Howard; 
Eleanor  B.,  born  in  1827,  became  the  third  wife  of  Downs  Edmunds; 
Thomas  R.,  l)orn  in  1830,  married  Martha  C,  and  their  children  are  Sallie, 
Edward  \V.,  James,  C.  Wesley,  of  this  review,  and  Allan;  Lydia  H..  born 
in  1832,  became  the  wife  of  Alvin  P.  Hildreth,  and  their  children  are  Frank 
H.  and  Jane  M.  E.;  Edward,  born  in  1834,  and  died  in  1835;  Mary  H.,  born 
in  1836,  married  Walter  A.  Barrows,  a  lawyer  and  at  one  time  the  county 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  at  Mount  Holly,  New  Jersey,  and 
their  children  were  Walter  A.,  Jr.,  and  Helen  W.,  and  EH  B.,  the  youngest, 
is  a  practicing  physician.  Judge  Eli  B.  Wales,  the  father  of  the  children 
just  named,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  married  Harriet  Edmonds,  a 
widow  of  James  Edmonds.  Her  maiden  name  was  ,Whittimore  and  her 
native  state  was  Connecticut.  By  her  marriage  they  had  one  son,  George 
H.,  who  was  born  in  1841  and  died  in  1871.  For  his  third  wife  Judge 
Wales  married  Mrs.  James  Schellinger,  of  Cape  May. 

Under  the  paternal  roof  Dr.  Wales  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood,  ac- 
quiring his  preliminary  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  was  grad- 
uated in  the  high  school  in  the  class  of  1886  and  then  entered  Blairstown 
Academy,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1888.  Determining  to  devote  his 
time  and  energies  to  the  practice  of  medicine,  he  then  matriculated  in  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  completing  the  course  in  1891.  Thus  well 
equipped  for  his  chosen  calling,  he  opened  an  ofifice  at  May's  Landing,  New- 
Jersey,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years,  enjoying  a  good  business.     Dur- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  551 

ing  that  time  he  served  as  the  physician  of  Atlantic  county  for  three  years. 

Finally  Dr.  Wales  came  to  Cape  May  and  purchased  his  present  place 
of  business  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Decatur  streets,  from  the  Dr. 
Kennedy  estate,  succeeding  Dr.  Kennedy  in  the  drug  business  and  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  He  conducts  a  well  equipped  store  and  enjoys  a  lib- 
eral patronage  in  the  drug  trade.  His  ofifices  in  the  rear  are  tastefully 
furnished  and  supplied  with  all  the  appliances  that  aid  the  physician  in  his 
practice.  He  is  widely  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  and  able  young- 
physicians  of  southern  New  Jersey.  He  is  a  diligent  student  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  medicine  and  its  uses  is  comprehensive  and  accurate.  The  excellent 
results  which  have  attended  his  efforts  demonstrate  his  skill  and  ability  and 
make  him  a  leading  member  of  the  profession.  He  belongs  to  the  county 
medical  societies  of  both  Atlantic  and  Cape  May  counties. 

The  Doctor  is  a  valued  representative  of  several  civic  societies  and  is 
the  past  master  of  Unity  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  May's  Landing.  He  has 
also  served  as  junior  and  senior  deacon  and  junior  and  senior  warden  of 
his  lodge.  For  six  years  he  was  a  member  of  Company  H,  Sixth  Regiment 
of  New  Jersey  National  Guards,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  he  has  been 
a  Republican  since  attaining  his  majority.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Orilla 
Edmunds  was  celebrated  April  14,  1891,  and  their  union  has  been  blest 
with  one  daughter,  Martha  T.  They  have  a  pleasant  home  in  Cape  May 
and  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


ISAAC  B.  LAWRENCE. 

Isaac  Biddle  Lawrence  is  a  hustling,  wide-awake  business  man  of  Salem, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  in  his 
present  quarters,  in  the  mercantile  trade.  He  was  born  August  8,  1848. 
in  Mannington  township,  this  county,  and  was  a  son  of  George  and  Hannah 
(Jenkins)  Lawrence.  George  was  one  of  five  children :  William,  a  farmer 
who  married  a  Miss  Seagraves  and  died  in  Salem;  Thomas,  who  married 
Ann  Barnes  and  was  a  farmer  near  Bridgeport,  where  he  died;  George; 
Catherine,  who  married  Adam  Stanger  and  lived  in  Philadelphia;  she  hafl 
two  daughters  and  lived  to  be  seventy  years  of  age;  and  Mary  Ann,  who 
married  Anthony  Elton,  a  farmer.  George  Lawrence  was  born  in  Salem 
county  and  became  an  extensive  farmer  in  Mannington  township.  He 
took  an  intelligent  interest  in  local  politics  and  was  an  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  partv.  He  chose  as  his  bride  Miss  Hannah  Jenkins,  who  bore 
him  ten  children,  viz. :    George,  a  farmer  in  Salem  county  but  a  resident 


552  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

of  Woodstown  at  the  time  of  his  death;  James,  a  farmer  in  this  county; 
Thomas;  Abraham;  Isaac  B. ;  Rebecca  Whitsell,  deceased;  Marj-  Harris, 
deceased;  Ellen,  unmarried;  Catherine  Smith;  and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  George 
Winfield),  deceased.  His  death  occurred  when  he  had  arrived  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  seventy. 

Isaac  B.  Lawrence  attended  the  district  schools  of  Mannington  and 
Elsinboro  townships  and  then  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  R.  P.  Hitc 
for  four  years.  He  purchased  the  property  of  Major  Lawson's  estate  and 
has  conducted  a  general  store  there  ever  since.  His  sales-rooms  are  thirty 
by  thirty-five  feet  and  are  neatly  and  tastefully  arranged  to  show  the  goods 
to  the  best  advantage.  They  are  fitted  with  electric  lights,  and  a  base- 
ment of  the  same  dimensions  furnishes  a  desirable  store-room.  His  stock 
comprises  a  large  and  complete  line  of  dry  goods,  furnishing  goods,  staple 
and  fancy  groceries,  provisions,  tin,  crockery,  and  glassware,  and  a  mis- 
cellaneous assortment  of  merchandise  from  which  his  customers  are  sure  to 
find  just  what  they  want.  He  has  worked  up  a  large  and  lucrative  patron- 
age and  has  devoted  all  his  energies  to  suiting  the  various  tastes  of  his 
customers.  He  has  made  several  judicious  investments  in  real  estate  and 
owns  sixteen  residences,  which  he  keeps  in  good  repair,  some  of  which  are 
among  the  finest  dwellings  in  the  city.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  largest  real- 
estate  owner  in  Salem  and  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens. 

He  was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Kirby,  a  daughter  of  John 
Kirby.  They  have  one  child,  Ida,  who  is  at  her  parental  home.  Mr,  Law- 
rence is  a  Democrat  in  political  faith  and  was  formerly  a  freeholder.  He 
was  the  city  treasurer  two  terms — in  1874-5  and  in  1884-5.  I"  religion  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Friends'  church.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Forest 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  since  its  organization  in  1869,  and  Brown 
Lodge,  No.  249;  Fenwick  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Salem  Encampment. 
He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Red  ]\Ien  several  years.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Salem  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  a  successor  to  Judge  Albert 
Slape,  deceased.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial,  enterprising  citizens,  whose 
energy  and  forethought  mean  so  much  to  any  city  or  village  and  bring 
prosperity  in  their  wake. 


WILLIAM   H.   COZENS. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  Swedesboro  is  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch,  and  who,  until  1893,  was  actively  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  was  born  in  Deptford  township,  Gloucester  countv, 
September   6,    1852.      His   parents   were    Richard   and    Elizabeth   (Hayes) 


CONGRESSIONAL   DISTRICT   OF  NEIV  JERSEY.  553 

Cozens,  natives  of  New  Jersey.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
The  parents  were  married  on  the  i8th  of  January,  1850,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren:  Alary  P.,  who  was  born  July  19.  185 1,  married  William  Titus,  of 
Paulsboro,  and  has  four  children;  Ellen,  born  April  14,  1854,  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Hannold,  of  Philadelphia,  and  has  three  children;  William  H.,  is 
the  ne.xt  of  the  family;  and  Charles,  who  was  born  May  6,  1856,  died  August 
12,  1858.  The  father  died  about  1857,  when  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and 
the  mother  passed  away  in  July,  188 1,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one. 

After  the  death  of  the  father  the  family  removed  to  Greenwich  town- 
ship, and  it  was  in  the  schools  of  that  locality  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
obtained  his  education.  His  entire  life  has  been  devoted  to  farming.  In 
1880  he  purchased  a  fine  farm  of  fifty-six  acres,  one  mile  from  Swedesboro, 
and  resided  there  for  thirteen  years.  It  was  located  on  the  turnpike  be- 
tween 'Woodbury  and  Swedesboro  adjoining  the  Salsbury  farm.  He  still 
retains  the  ownership  of  this,  and  has  another  farm  in  South  Harrison  town- 
ship, between  Swedesboro  and  Harrison ville.  In  1893,  however,  he  decided 
to  retire  from  active  work  and  removed  to  this  city,  where  he  has  a  com- 
fortable home,  which  was  rebuilt  and  modernized  in  1898.  He  is  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Swedesboro  Heat,  Light  &  Power  Company,  and  his  wife  is 
a  stockholder  in  the  Swedesboro  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Cozens  was  married  December  13,  1876,  to  Kate  A.  Allen,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Allen,  of  Gibbstown,  New  Jersey.  They  have  two  daughters, 
— Marie  A.  and  Lizzie  H.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church,  to  the  work  of  which  they  are  always  ready  to  give  liberal  as- 
sistance. Mr.  Cozens  belongs  to  the  Swedesboro  Grange  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 


EDWARD  L.  STRATTON. 

This  old-time  and  honored  citizen  of  Alullica  Hill,  of  which  place  he  is  a 
native,  is  of  good  old  English  stock  and  bears  an  enviable  record  both  as 
a  business  man  of  integrity  and  a  brave  soldier  during  the  civil  war.  The 
heroes  of  that  unique  and  hotly-contested  struggle  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  Union  are  yearly  falling  by  the  wayside  from  old  age  and  its  accompany- 
ing infirmities,  and  it  is  fitting  that  we  who  reaped  the  reward  of  their  cour- 
ageous deeds  should  gather  and  preserve  in  some  permanent  fomi  every- 
thing we  can  find  regarding  their  histories. 

The  grandfather  of  Colonel  Stratton,  Jacob  Stratton,  was  the  son  of 
Samuel,  one  of  three  brothers,  the  sons  of  William  Stratton.  of  Stratford. 


554  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

England.  Nathan  T..  the  son  of  Jacob  and  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  bom  in  Piles  Grove.  Salem  count}-.  New  Jersey,  and  in  1827 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  one  year  in  a  store.  On  January  9. 
1829.  he  removed  to  Mullica  Hill  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness with  Jonathan  Colson.  In  1833  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  but  the 
following  year  again  began  business  in  Mullica  Hill,  forming  a  partnership 
in  1S35  with  a  son  of  his  former  employer,  the  firm  being  known  as  Colson 
&  Stratton.  This  connection  lasted  until  1S4.1,  when  Mr.  Stratton  went 
into  business  for  himself.  He  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  in 
1844.  and  in  1850  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  as  a  representative 
of  his  district  to  the  United  States  congress,  his  opponent  in  the  campaign 
being  Thomas  H.  Whiting.  He  was  re-elected  in  1852,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  Hon.  Thomas  il.  Ferrell,  no  Democrat  has  since  been  elected 
to  congress  from  that  district. 

Nathan  T.  Stratton  married  Sarah  M.,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Shenvin. 
Mrs.  Stratton  was  a  woman  of  fine  character,  quiet  and  retiring  in  her  dis- 
position, devoted  to  her  home  and  family,  a  mother  whose  children  "rise 
up  and  call  her  blessed."  She  died  September  30.  i860.  lea\'ing  behind 
her  the  memory-  of  a  well  spent  life.  The  father  passed  away  March  9. 
1887,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  per- 
sonality', active  in  many  Unes,  and  held  a  prominent  place  in  his  commu- 
raty.  He  settled  up  many  estates  and  paid  out  the  large  amount  of 
seventeen  thousand  dollars  as  securit>-  money.  Foiu*  of  the  children  of 
this  worthy  couple  are  li^-ing:  Isaac  S.,  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Swedes- 
boro.  New  Jersey:  Edward  L.:  Mary  L..  now  ilrs.  Moore;  and  Jacob  J., 
residing  in  Mullica  Hill.  James  Stratton  enlisted  when  a  school  boy  of 
sixteen  in  his  brother  Edward's  company,  in  the  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Vol- 
unteers, was  killed  in  battle  August  25.  1864.  and  his  remains  were  brought 
home  and  buried. 

Colonel  Edward  L.  Stratton  was  bom  at  Mullica  Hill,  March  14.  1839. 
As  a  boy  he  studied  in  the  schools  at  home,  and  later  at  Wilmington. 
Delaware,  and  for  one  term  in  West  Jersey  College,  at  Bridgeton.  He 
began  his  business  career  as  a  partner  with  his  father  in  the  firm  of  N.  T. 
Stratton  &  Son.  they  owning  a  large  store  in  ^Mullica  Hill  and  also  one  in 
Swedesboro.  After  the  war  the  firm  became  Stratton  &  Brother.  The 
call  for  volunteers  which  resounded  through  the  land  when  war  was  com- 
menced between  the  north  and  the  south,  met  with  a  ready  response  from 
thousands  of  the  loyal  young  men  who  \\-ithout  hesitation  left  their  schools, 
their  stores,  their  farms  and  their  homes  to  ser^-e  their  country-.  Among 
these  was  Edward  L.  Stratton,  who  in  June,  1862,  enlisted  as  a  recruiting 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEJJ'  JERSEY.  555 

officer  for  Company  F,  Twelfth  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  His  company  was 
the  first  in  the  regiment  to  make  up  its  complement  of  men,  and  he  was 
appointed  captain  on  August  15,  1862.  being  mustered  in  September  4. 
His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville  it  lost  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Captain  Stratton 
was  in  the  front  rank  at  tliis  bloody  engagement  and  was  severely  wounded, 
losing  his  right  leg  in  consequence.  He  was  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel 
for  gallant  conduct  in  battle,  and  was  made  colonel  for  similar  reasons. 
At  length  he  resigned  his  commission  and  was  appointed  captain  in  the 
Invalid  Corps.  He  held  various  positions  in  the  hospitals  at  Philadelphia 
and  Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  the  barracks  at  Washington,  and  was  assist- 
ant inspector  general  under  General  Wilcox  in  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio.     He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  July  20,  1866. 

Colonel  Stratton  continued  in  the  mercantile  business  until  1886,  and 
for  ten  years — from  1885  to  1895. — ^was  a  lay  member  of  the  Gloucester 
court.  He  was  the  postmaster  at  Mullica  Hill  during  both  of  Cleveland's 
administrations  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  insur- 
ance business.  He  has  for  many  years  been  a  member  and  trustee  of  the 
Baptist  chvtrch  and  has  been  the  secretary  of  the  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation of  Mullica  Hill  ever  since  its  organization  in  1886.  He  is  also  the 
financier  of  the  conclave  of  the  order  of  Heptasophs.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  in  1883  ran  for  the  office  of  surrogate,  but  was  beaten  by 
a  small  majority.  At  another  time  he  ran  for  the  legislature  on  the  same 
ticket  with  Governor  Parker,  and  in  1898  was  again  a  candidate,  his 
opponent  being  Governor  Walters. 

Colonel  Stratton  was  married  December  25,  1886,  to  Emma,  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Harker,  of  Swedesboro,  and  four  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Sarah,  Emma  H.,  Deborah  and  Edward  L.,  Jr.  The  latter  was  in 
the  employ  of  the  United  States  at  Fort  Delaware. 


ANDERSON    BOURGEOIS. 

Anderson  Bourgeois  is  a  well-known  capitalist  who  controls  extensive 
real-estate  interests  in  Cape  May  county,  maintaining  his  residence  in 
Estelville.  He  was  born  in  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  November  15,  1859, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Broadwater)  Bourgeois.  The  family 
name  is  of  French  origin,  and  the  grandfather,  Edward  A.  Bourgeois,  was 
the  first  of  the  name  to  seek  a  home  in  America,  crossing  the  Atlantic 
about  1823.  He  located  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of 
dveing;,  which  he  had  learned  in  his  native  land.     There  he  resided  until 


556  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

his  marriage  to  Miss  Sallie  Scattergood,  after  which  he  removed  to  New 
Orleans,  Louisiana,  where  he  remained  for  ten  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Philadelphia.  During  the  succeeding  two  decades  he  was  connected 
with  tiie  business  interests  of  the  latter  city,  after  which  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days  in  traveling,  visiting  France  and  other  European  countries. 
He  also  went  to  Panama  and  Central  America,  his  death  occurring  on  the 
isthmus.  He  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the  distinguished  families  of 
our  sister  Republic,  being  a  relative  of  Minister  M.  Bourgeois.  His  chil- 
dren were  Edward,  a  bricklayer  now  residing  in  St.  Louis;  George:  and 
Sallie,  who  died  in  Philadelphia. 

George  Bourgeois  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  February  14. 
1833,  and  became  a  contractor  and  builder.  He  resided  in  Philadelphia 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  Morristown,  where  he 
made  his  home  until  1889,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Ocean  City,  Cape  May  county.  His  ability  in  the  line  of  his  chosen  voca- 
tion is  indicated  by  the  extensive  patronage  which  he  receives.  He  has 
erected  here  the  Atlantic  Hotel  and  the  merry-go-rounds,  and  took  the 
contract  for  building  a  board  walk  fifty-eigb.t  hundred  feet  long  with 
twenty-nine  hundred  feet  of  approaches.  This  work  he  completed  in 
1897-8.  His  political  support  is  given  the  Democracy,  and  socially  he  is 
connected  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  his  family  are 
six  children:  Edward,  a  contractor  and  builder,  who  married  Anna  Stites; 
Anderson;  Helen,  the  wife  of  James  Morts,  a  contractor,  by  whom  she 
has  two  sons,  Bertie  and  John;  George  Edward,  an  attorney-at-law  in 
Atlantic  City,  who  married  Emma  Boggs,  and  has  one  daughter,  Ellen: 
Sallie;    and  Anna,  wife  of  Harry  G.  Steadman. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Morristown  Mr.  Bourgeois,  of  this  review.  ]iur- 
sued  his  education,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1877.  He  subse- 
quently attended  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  completed  the 
law  course,  being  graduated  in  1888  and  the  same  year  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Philadelphia.  He  then  married  Miss  Anna  Estell,  and  located 
in  Estelville,  to  look  after  the  Estell  estate  which  comprises  twenty  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  six  farms,  two  thousand  acres  of  meadow  land  and 
some  timber  tracts,  a  gristmill  and  a  sawmill.  He  is  also  interested  in  real 
estate  in  Ocean  City,  having  there  some  valuable  property.  He  owns  the 
Hotel  ^tna.  together  with  fourteen  residences,  three  stores  and  ofifice 
buildings  at  No.  9  Asbury  avenue,  and  about  one  hundred  building  lots. 
The  control  of  these  extensi\e  property  interests  demands  great  care  and 
business  ability.  It  requires  marked  executive  force  and  keen  discernment 
to  make  real  estate  in\cstnients  i^rofitable  so  that  they  yield  a  good  in- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  557 

terest  upon  the  capital.  Tliis  Mr.  Bourgeois  is  doing,  however,  and  is 
accounted  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  reliable  business  men  in  his 
adopted  county. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1887,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bour- 
geois and  Miss  Anna  Estell,  and  they  now  have  an  interesting  little  daugh- 
ter, Rebecca.  Their  beautiful  home  is  celebrated  for  its  charming  and 
gracious  hospitality,  and  they  enjoy  the  friendship  of  many  of  the  best 
people  throughout  this  section  of  the  state.  In  his  poHtical  views  Mr. 
Bourgeois  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the  office  of  freeholder,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  political  preferment,  as  his  time  and  attention  is 
fully  occupied  with  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with  signal 
success. 


JOSEPH   F.   HAND. 

The  volume  of  business  and  the  importance  of  the  work  entrusted  to 
Joseph  Fifield  Hand  is  an  indication  that  he  is  classed  among  the  leading- 
contractors  and  buiklers  at  Ocean  City;  nor  have  his  efforts  been  con- 
fined to  this  place,  as  he  has  erected  in  other  sections  of  the  country  sub- 
stantial structures,  whose  architectural  beauty  and  fine  workmanship  have 
elicited  wide  praise.  As  the  history  of  a  community  is  best  told  by  the  lives 
of  its  representative  men,  we  take  great  pleasure  in  presenting  to  our 
readers  the  record  of  this  well-known  resident  of  Ocean  City. 

Mr.  Hand  was  born  in  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey,  May  7,  1852,  his  parents 
being  Jeremiah  Learning  and  Susan  (Downs)  Hand.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Aaron  Hand,  resided  at  Townsend's  Inlet,  Cape  May  county,  where 
he  owned  and  managed  a  large  farm.  He  exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party.  His  son,  Jere- 
miah Leaming  Hand,  was  born  at  Townsend's  Inlet,  and  was  educated  in 
the  medical  profession.  For  many  years  he  practiced  at  Tuckerton.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  sea  captain,  but  his  vessel  was  lost  in  a  storm  and  he 
afterward  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine;  but  he  is  now  living  retired 
and  enjoying  the  rest  which  he  has  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  In 
politics  he  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and  his  religious  belief  is  in  har- 
mony with  the  teachings  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  has 
held  various  offices  in  the  organizations  in  which  he  holds  membership. 
He  married  Miss  Susan  Downs,  who  died  in  1879,  and  in  their  family  were 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Hand,  of  this  review,  is  the  only  sur- 
viving child.  The  Doctor,  however,  is  still  living  and  has  reached  the 
Psalmist's  span  of  three-score  years  and  ten.     His  wife  was  a  daughter  of 


558  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Isaac  Downs,  an  oyster-planter  who  resided  in  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey. 
His  wife  was  Mrs.  Ann  Downs,  and  their  children  were  Samuel,  Charles, 
Marj-,  Susan,  Hulda  and  Jackson. 

Mr.  Hand,  of  this  sketch,  obtained  his  education  in  Pennington  Sem- 
inary, but  his  mother  died  before  the  time  of  his  graduation  arrived  and 
accordingly  he  returned  home,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  He 
afterward  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  for  a  short  time  worked  as  a 
journeyman;  after  which  he  began  contracting  and  building  on  his  own 
account.  He  built  the  life-saving  stations  at  Long  Beach  and  at  Anglesea. 
and  the  first  work  he  undertook  in  Ocean  City  was  the  erection  of  the 
artistic  little  cottage  Holiday.  Since  that  time,  under  his  supervision,  nave 
been  put  up  many  of  the  best  cottages  and  hotels  here,  including  the  hand- 
some residence  of  Rev.  B.  H.  Sanderlin  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  furnishes  employment  for  fourteen  men.  Mr.  Hand  is  also 
interested  in  real  estate  and  owns  two  excellent  buildings,  including  stores 
and  living  rooms. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1873,  ^^'^^  celebrated  the  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject to  Mary  A.,  a  daughter  of  Gershon  Fielder,  of  Port  Republic,  New 
Jersey.  Her  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Fielder,  resided  at  Manahawkin, 
Ocean  county,  and  was  both  a  farmer  and  seaman.  He  married  Hannah 
Brown,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Gershon,  Lydia, 
Mary,  Benjamin  and  Dan, — the  last  named  now  deceased.  Gershon 
Fielder  was  born  at  Manahawkin  and  devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  is  deceased :  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 
In  their  family  were  four  sons  and  a  daughter:  Daniel,  Robert,  Mary, 
Joseph  and  Gershon.  Unto  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Hand  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren:  Cora  A.,  Bertha,  Bella,  Harold,  Gussie  Edward  and  Hazel. 

Mr.  Hand  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Red  Men  and  the 
Junior  Order  of  American  ^Mechanics.  His  life  exemplifies  the  fraternal 
spirit  and  benevolent  principles  of  these  organizations.  He  serves  his  city 
as  a  member  of  the  fire  department  and  contributes  to  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity by  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His 
life  has  been  an  active,  busy  and  useful  one,  and  his  fidelity  to  duty  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


LORENZO    A.    DOWNS. 

Everywhere  in  our  land  are  found  men  who  have  worked  their  own  way 
from  humble  and  lowly  beginnings  to  places  of  leadership  in  the  commerce, 
the  great  productive  industries,   and   the  management  of  the  veins  and 


CONGRESSIOXAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  559 

arteries  of  the  traffic  and  exchanges  of  the  country.  Difficulties  and  obsta- 
cles in  their  path  seem  but  to  serve  as  an  impetus  for  renewed  and  more 
persistent  effort,  and  thus  they  have  steadily  worked  their  way  upward. 
Of  such  a  class  Mr.  Downs  is  a  representative,  and  to-day  he  occupies  a 
prominent  position  in  the  financial  circles  of  Atlantic  City,  being  the  cashier 
of  the  Second  National  Bank,  and  secretarj-  and  treasurer  of  the  Atlantic 
Safety  Deposit  and  Trust  Company. 

A  native  of  New  Jersey,  he  was  born  in  Downsville,  Gloucester  county, 
October  9,  1839,  ^"^^  is  a  representative  of  an  old  family  of  German  origin. 
His  grandfather,  Aquilla  Downs,  was  a  man  of  prominence  who  served  as 
a  local  preacher  and  exerted  a  strong  influence  for  good  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lived.  He  was  an  extensive  land-owner  and  the  town  of  Downs- 
ville was  named  in  his  honor.  Jesse  Downs,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  at  that  place  and  became  a  farmer  and  lumber  merchant,  conducting 
a  profitable  business.  He  held  a  number  of  township  offices  and  was  a 
leading  worker  and  officer  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which 
he  was  a  member  until  his  death  in  1882.  He  married  Miss  Katherine 
Kandle,  a  daughter  of  John  Kandle,  of  Salem  county,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  1884.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living,  namely:  Lorenzo  A.;  Christian  S.,  a  merchant  of  Newfield, 
Gloucester  county;  and  Precilla  B..  the  widow  of  Charles  H.  Chew,  of 
Downsville. 

Lorenzo  A.  Downs  attended  the  local  schools,  but  at  an  early  age  put 
aside  his  text-books  and  entered  a  store  at  Forest  Grove  near  his  home, 
where  he  was  employed  for  five  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  established  a  store  and  sawmill  at  Downsville,  and  after  that  was  elected 
to  a  number  of  local  offices,  which  claimed  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and 
attention  for  some  years.  In  1870  he  was  chosen  as  the  town  clerk  of 
Buena  Vista  township,  Atlantic  county,  for  one  year's  ser\'ice,  and  on  his 
retirement  from  that  office  he  was  elected  and  served  for  four  years  as  a 
collector.  He  was  next  elected  the  clerk  of  Atlantic  county,  receiving 
every  vote  in  his  township  with  the  exception  of  three, — a  fact  which  well 
indicates  his  popularity  in  the  community  in  wdiich  he  is  best  known.  He 
continued  to  hold  that  office  by  successive  re-elections  for  five  years,  a 
longer  term  than  has  been  accorded  any  other  incumbent. 

In  1877  Mr.  Downs  went  to  Atlantic  City  and  accepted  the  position 
as  the  bookkeeper  in  the  Second  National  Bank,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  six  months.  When  the  Atlantic  City  Deposit  &  Trust  Company  was 
organized  he  was  at  once  made  its  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  has  ever 
since  filled  those  positions.     On  the  ist  of  May,  1889,  he  was  elected  the 


56o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

cashier  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  and  is  now  discharging  the  duties  of 
both  offices.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  State  Building  &  Loan  Associa- 
tion, of  Camden,  and  in  the  Atlantic  Coast  Building  &  Loan  Association. 
In  1861  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Downs  and  Miss  Fanny 
Henny,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Henny,  of  Salem  county.  They  have  two 
children, — Laura  and  Mary, — the  latter  now  the  wife  of  Harry  Woodruff. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Downs  is  a  Ke])ul)lican,  and  exercises  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  that  party.  Socially  he  is 
a  Mason  and  belongs  to  the  Central  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  is  holding  the  office  of  trustee.  He  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  social,  intellectual  and  moral 
improvement  of  the  community.  He  possesses  marked  executive  ability 
and  keen  discernment,  qualities  which  have  brought  him  very  enviaJDle 
success,  while  his  commendable  methods  have  secured  him  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  all.  Although  he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed  he  now 
occupies  a  leading  position  in  financial  circles  in  Atlantic  City  and  is  well 
deserving  of  representation  in  this  volume. 


DANIEL    KLOS. 


Daniel  Klos,  one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  of  southern  New 
Jersey,  furnishes  an  excellent  illustration  of  wdiat  can  be  accomplished  by 
a  young  man  of  pluck  and  energy  coming  to  this  country  w'ithout  means 
and  without  e\en  a  knowledge  of  the  English  language.  The  record  of 
his  life,  in  brief,  is  as  follows : 

Daniel  Klos  was  born  in  Zweibriicken,  Rhinefels.  Bavaria,  Germany. 
May  21,  i860,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Schmitt)  Klos,  and  is  the 
eldest  of  five  children,  namely:  Daniel;  Eva,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania: 
Lena,  of  Swedesboro,  New  Jersey;  and  Lewis  and  Ernest,  who  are  on  the 
farm,  with  their  brother  Daniel.  Mr.  Klos  passed  his  boyhood  days  on  a 
farm  in  his  native  land,  receiving  a  public-school  education,  and  in  1880 
said  good-by  to  home  and  friends  and  came  to  America,  believing  that  the 
opportunities  for  advancement  were  better  here  than  in  the  old  country. 
In  the  spring  of  1883  he  sent  for  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  the  following- 
year  for  his  parents.  His  father  died  here  September  25,  1898,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-one  years;  and  his  mother,  aged  seventy-three  at  this  writing,  is 
living  with  him. 

On  his  arrival  in  this  country,  Mr.  Klos  came  direct  to  Swedesboro  and 
his  first  three  years  here  were  spent  as  a  farm  hand,  working  by  the  month. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  561 

Then  he  rented  the  farm  he  now  owns,  and  cuhivated  it  on  shares  for 
ten  years,  until  1893,  when  he  purchased  it.  This  farm  comprises  one 
hundred  and  forty-one  acres  of  excellent  land,  well  improved,  ranking  with 
the  finest  farm  properties  in  Gloucester  county.  Its  sightly  and  substantial 
buildings,  excepting  the  residence,  were  erected  by  him.  Strong  and  will- 
ing to  work,  and  with  an  indomitable  ambition  to  get  on  in  the  world,  Mr. 
Klos  was  unceasing  in  his  efl'orts  to  get  a  start,  and  when  he  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  own  responsibility  he  knew  by  experience  how  to  conduct 
the  same  successfully;  and,  unlike  many  men  of  fortune,  Mr.  Klos  has  not 
accumulated  his  means  through  practices  of  penury  or  penny-grasping. 
He  is  rather  of  a  generous,  open-handed  nature  and  has  made  his  money 
by  good  management  and  doing  things  on  a  large  scale.  He  is  to-day 
ranked  with  the  substantial  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  his  community. 
Mr.  Klos  is  an  active  member  of  the  Swedesboro  Grange,  and  takes  a 
lively  interest  in  everything  that  will  promote  the  welfare  of  the  agri- 
culturist. 


P.  J.  JORDAN. 

It  is  not  an  unusual  thing  to  find  that  the  men  who  are  now  leaders  in 
business  circles  have  arisen  to  their  present  positions  of  prominence 
through  their  own  unaided  efiforts.  Of  this  class  Mr.  Jordan  is  a  repre- 
sentative, and  though  he  started  out  in  life  hampered  by  poverty  and  fet- 
tered by  the  lack  of  educational  privileges,  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  most 
successful  dry-goods  merchants  of  Camden. 

A  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  he  was  born  in  county  Mayo,  in  April. 
1856.  His  father,  Michael  Jordan,  was  a  native  of  the  same  locality  and 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  but  he  died  when  his  son  was  only  three  years  of 
age,  and  leaving  the  family  in  limited  circumstances,  Mr.  Jordan  was  forced 
to  earn  his  own  living  during  his  early  youth.  He  worked  as  a  farm  laborer, 
but  in  1 87 1  he  determined  to  trj'  his  fortune  in  America,  believing  that 
better  opportunities  were  furnished  yoimg  men  in  this  land  than  in  the 
older  countries  of  Eiirope.  Crossing  the  Atlantic  to  New  York,  he  made 
his  way  to  New  Jersey  and  for  four  years  worked  on  a  farm  near  New 
Brunswick,  during  which  time  he  sent  all  of  his  wages  to  his  widowed 
mother.  He  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  in  an 
installment  house  as  salesman  and  collector  until  1882. 

That  year  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Jordan  in  Camden,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  identified  with  the  mercantile  interests  of  this  city.  He 
opened  a  very  small  store  at  No.  546  Federal  street  and  equipped  it  with 
II— jj 


562  BIOGRAI'IIICII.   HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

a  stock  of  dry  goods.  His  capital  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  dollars, 
which  he  had  saved  from  his  wages  in  former  years.  He  remained  at  his 
first  location  for  two  years,  when,  finding  his  quarters  too  small,  he  re- 
moved to  a  building  on  the  site  of  his  present  store  and  there  he  carried  on 
trade  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  tore  down  the  building  and 
erected  his  present  large  business  block,  which  is  one  hundred  feet  deep, 
of  twenty-two  feet  front  and  four  stories  high.  He  carries  a  large  and 
complete  line  of  dry  goods,  clothing  for  men,  women  and  children,  and 
furniture.  Employment  is  furnished  to  fifteen  people,  and  the  sales  have 
now  reached  large  proportions,  bringing  to  him  an  excellent  income.  Year 
by  year  his  business  has  increased  till  he  is  now  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  this  section  of  the  state.  His  own  well-directed  efforts  have 
brought  to  him  a  handsome  capital,  which  numbers  him  among  the  wealthy 
men  of  Camden.  He  has  made  judicious  investments  in  other  lines,  and  his 
keen  discernment  has  enabled  him  to  put  his  money  wdiere  it  has  brought 
a  good  rate  of  interest. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  I\Iary  A.  Enright.  of 
Philadelphia,  who  died  February  4,  1897,  leaving  two  sons, — Joseph  and 
Philip.  Frequently  Mr.  Jordan  has  been  solicited  to  accept  ofiice,  but  has 
always  refused.  He  is  a  Catholic  in  his  religious  belief  and  contributes 
liberally  to  the  support  of  his  church.  His  example  illustrates  most  forciblv 
the  opportunities  which  America  affords  to  young  men  of  intelligence, 
industry  and  ambition.  -His  hope  of  meeting  with  success  in  the  New- 
World  has  been  more  than  realized,  and  he  has  not  only  gained  a  hand- 
some competence,  but  has  won  many  warm  friends  in  the  city  of  his 
adoption. 


JOHN    GREEN. 

John  Green  is  a  resident  of  Clarksboro,  his  native  town,  his  birth 
having  occurred  July  13,  1S32,  and  he  is  of  German  lineage.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  David  Green,  was  born  in  Germany  and  became  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  America,  where  he  acquired  extensive  landed  interests. 
owning  one  thousand  acres  near  Swedesboro.  Joseph  D.  Green,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  bom  near  Swedesboro  in  1793  and  died  in  1887.  In 
early  life  he  learned  the  butcher's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  manv  vears, 
and  later  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Morris,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gilbert  Morris,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  are  yet  living.     The  mother,  however,  has  passed  away. 

Mr.  Green,  of  this  review,  attended  the  common  schools  and  in  earlv 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  563 

manhood  engaged  in  teaching  for  four  years,  following  that  profession  in 
Mantua  and  other  places.  In  1S57  he  purchased  the  old  family  homestead 
and  has  since  carried  on  farming.  He  was  also  the  proprietor  of  a  store 
in  Clarksboro  for  five  years,  but  now  devotes  his  energies  exclusively  to 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  the  home 
place  and  has  other  land  elsewhere.  His  farming  methods  are  practical 
and  progressive,  and  by  the  careful  cultivation  of  his  fields  he  secures  good 
crops,  which  bring  him  a  desirable  income. 

Mr.  Green  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  B.  Hughes,  who  died 
in  1888.  Of  their  eight  children  seven  are  yet  living,  namely:  Samuel; 
William;  Scott,  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Qarksboro;  Rebecca,  the  wife 
of  Dan  Sweaton,  who  is  living  near  Clarksboro;  Isabella.  Harry  and  INIary 
V.  In  1891  Mr.  Green  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Miss  Catharine  Kealey,  a  school-teacher. 


ELLIS   C.   ELDREDGE. 


This  gentleman  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Xew 
Jersey,  and  on  the  pages  of  the  history  of  the  state  the  family  name  figures 
conspicuously.  Jeremy  Eldredge  was  sent  by  the  king  of  England  to 
America  to  adjust  the  land  titles  in  southern  New  Jersey.  His  son.  Aaron, 
was  born  June  13,  1771.  married  Hannah  Langdon  on  the  17th  of  June. 
1792.  He  was  the  surrogate  of  Cape  May  county  in  1801.  and  the  follow- 
ing year  ser\^ed  as  the  coroner.  His  death  occurred  August  21.  1819.  and 
his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1774,  died  in  1836.  She  was  a  lady  of  many 
graces  and  of  great  kindliness.  She  was  graduated  in  the  Moravian  schools 
at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  the  oldest  school  for  young  ladies  in  America, 
and  was  said  to  have  been  the  first  lady  to  own  a  carriage  in  Lower  town- 
ship. Cape  May  county.  Her  children  were  Jeremiah  L..  Aaron.  Eliza, 
Joseph,  William,  Stillwell,  George  and  Ephraim. 

Jeremiah  Leaming  Eldredge,  the  grandfather  of  our  suliject,  was  born 
July  14,  1793.  and  married  Harriet  Tomlin  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1821, 
in  Goshen,  Cape  May  county.  He  died  of  Asiatic  cholera  at  Cold  Spring, 
July  10,  1849.  His  wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Tomlin. 
was  born  in  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey.  December  3.  1805.  and  died 
October  23.  1863.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  the  eldest 
being  William  Tomlin,  the  father  of  our  subject.  Samuel,  born  March  30. 
1824,  died  April  26.  1824.  Eliza  Ellen  was  bom  June  25.  1825.  Eliza,  the 
second  of  the  name,  was  born  August  7,  1826,  and  became  the  wife  of 


564  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Humphrey  Ilus'lies,  a  Delaware  pilot,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,. — 
Adrian  and  Harriet  Eldredge.  Charles  was  born  February  18,  1830,  and 
became  a  farmer  and  carpenter  at  Shiloh,  New  Jersey.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Tomlin,  and  their  children  Avere  Mrs.  Jennie  Craig,  Judith  T.,  Mrs.  Abbie 
Harris,  Harriet  and  Paul.  Jeremiah  L.,  bom  November  2,  1831,  became  a 
pilot.  He  wedded  Mary  Marshall,  and  their  children  were  Alonzo,  wdio  was 
born  in  1856,  and  is  now  deceased;  Ida  May,  born  in  1858;  John  M..  born 
in  i860;  Frank  H.,  who  was  born  in  1862,  and  is  also  deceased;  and  George 
H.,  born  in  1872.  Nelson  T.,  born  October  13,  1833,  died  June  16,  1886. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  for  three  years  served  as  the  sherifif  of  Cape  May 
county.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Deborah  V.  B.  Hand,  and  their 
children  were  Marietta,  now  deceased;  Southard,  Eliza,  Jacob  S.  and  Wood- 
ruff G.  Francis  S.,  born  April  22,  1836,  became  a  pilot,  and  married  Eliza- 
beth Edwards  Johnson, by  whom  he  had  three  children, — Loring  B.,  Joseph 
J.  and  Francis  G.  James  S.,  bom  September  28,  1839,  was  a  mail  agent  and 
farmer  in  early  life,  but  aftenvard  became  a  coal  dealer  at  Cape  May.  He 
served  in  Company  F  of  the  Twenty-fifth  New  Jersey  Infantry  for  nine 
months  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  enlisting  in  September,  1862.  He 
now  resides  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  He  married  Charlotte  P.  Stimpson,  and 
their  children  are  Charles  S.,  Augustus  and  Clara.  Harriet,  bom  December 
20,  1841,  became  the  wife  of  John  Parsons,  and  they  have  five  children, — 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ritter,  ^Irs.  Maggie  Taylor,  Emma,  Robert  P.  and  Augustus 
•  S.  George  E.,  born  September '23,  1845,  is  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  William  C.  Town  and  their  children  are  ]\Irs.  Harriet 
Cresse,  Lizzie  C,  Charles  and  Ada. 

William  Tomlin  Eldredge,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  bom  at  Cape 
May.  October  19,  1822,  and  died  December  4,  1888.  Throughout  his  life  he 
was  a  Delaware  pilot,  and  during  his  service  he  encovmtered  a  severe  storm 
W'hich  prevented  him  from  eftecting  a  landing,  and  he  was  carried  across  the 
ocean  to  Europe.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  belief 
w"as  a  Presbyterian.  He  married  Isabelle  Corson,  of  Petersburg,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  they  had  six  children,  as  follow-s:  Stillwell,  who  is  in  the  govern- 
ment employ  at  the  life-saving  station  at  Cape  May  Point,  married  Anna 
Hand;  Ellis  Corson  is  the  next  younger;  Walter,  who  married  Mrs.  Kate 
(Worth)  Cresse  and  has  one  child,  is  engaged  in  the  grocer}^  and  fruit  busi- 
ness at  Haddonfield,  New  Jersey;  Lewis,  who  is  an  assistant  at  the  Cape 
May  light-house,  wedded  Mary  Harris,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. — 
Harold  and  Ida  May, — and  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  married  Miss 
Weeks;  Livingston,  a  carpenter,  married  Judith  Hofifman,  and  with  their 
daughter,  Florence,  they  reside  at  Cape  May;   and  Elizabeth,  the  youngest 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  565 

of  the  family,  is  the  wife  of  William  Hensley,  a  millwright  and  painter,  their 
children  being  May,  Raleigh,  Joseph,  Harriet  and  William  H. 

Ellis  C.  Eldredge,  whose  name  introduces  the  initial  paragraph  of  this 
review,  was  born  at  Cold  Spring,  May  6,  1851,  and  attended  the  public 
schools  in  his  native  towni  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  w^hen  he  became  appren- 
ticed as  a  pilot,  serving  a  six-year  term.  His  hfe  has  been  devoted  to  the 
work  of  safely  conducting  vessels  through  the  channel  of  the  bay  and  river 
into  a  safe  harbor.  It  is  often  an  arduous  task,  and  one  requiring  great 
courage,  and  on  many  occasions  he  has  displayed  great  bravery  as  well  as 
marked  skill  and  ability.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  &  Delaware 
Pilots'  Association  and  of  the  Pilots'  Society.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs,  and  the 
Cape  May  Relief  Association.  For  three  years  he  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany H,  Sixth  Regiment  New  Jersey  National  Guards,  during  its  existence 
at  Cape  May.  His  political  support  is  given  the  Democracy,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Cape  May  Building  &  Loan  Association. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1876,  Mr.  Eldredge  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Emma  Robison,  a  daughter  of  John  Robison,  who  was  killed  during  the 
civil  war.  Two  children  grace  their  imion, — Flora  and  Elsie  D.,  both  at 
home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eldredge  have  many  friends  in  this  community  and 
are  both  widely  and  favorably  known. 


ELLWOOD   K.   FORTINER. 

The  veil  was  lifted  to  gain  the  new  glory  of  a  true  and  beautiful  life  when 
death  set  the  seal  upon  the  mortal  lip?  of  Ellwood  K.  Fortiner.  Noble  prin- 
ciples actuated  his  entire  career,  and  any  monument  erected  to  his  memory 
to  commemorate  his  virtues  would  have  become  dim  and  tarnished  by  time 
ere  the  example  of  his  upright  life  shall  cease  to  exercise  an  influence  upon 
the  community  in  which  he  lived  and  labored  to  such  goodly  intent.  He 
passed  away  August  23,  1899,  at  which  time  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  and 
m.ost  prominent  citizens  of  Camden. 

Mr.  Fortiner  was  born  in  Haddonfield,  New  Jersey,  August  12,  1820. 
No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  to  vary  the  common  interest  of 
bovhood,  and  after  attaining  his  majority  he  engaged  in  the  business  of 
the  general  wood-worker,  at  the  corner  of  Berkley  and  Williams  streets,  in 
Camden.  On  his  retirement  from  that  industn,'  he  opened  a  general  hard- 
ware store  at  No.  122  Federal  street  and  successfully  carried  on  business 
there  until  his  death.    He  had  already  established  a  reputation  for  reliability. 


566  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

and  from  the  beoinning  of  his  connection  with  the  hardware  trade  his  pat- 
ronage constantly  and  steadily  increased.  Till  within  a  few  days  of  his  death 
he  was  found  at  his  store  actively  managing  its  affairs.  Mr.  Fortiner  pos- 
sessed social  principles  of  a  practical  order;  he  did  not  believe  in  the  theory 
of  dividing  capital,  but  possessed  a  benevolent  spirit  which  caused  him  to 
desire  to  aid  those  who  were  willing  to  help  themselves.  Knowing  that  the 
home  is  the  foundation  upon  which  rests  our  social  life  and  from  which 
emanates  those  principles  that  produce  stability  in  business  and  fidelity  in 
governmental  aftairs,  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Building 
&  Loan  Association  and  was  the  father  of  thi,s  form  of  savings  institution. 
At  tlie  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  treasurer  of  the  People's  Building  & 
Loan  Association  and  secretary  of  the  City  and  Franklin  Associations,  hold- 
ing those  positions  almost  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  enter- 
prises, his  long  connection  therewith  making  him  a  valued  member  of  the 
board  of  directors. 

In  1841  ^Ir.  Fortiner  married  Elizabeth  G.  Roseman,  who  still  survives 
him,  and  to  them  were  born  two  children,i — George  a  physician,  now  de- 
ceased, and  Harry.  Air.  Fortiner  and  his  family  attended  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  zealous  members.  For  nearly 
sixty  years  he  served  as  a  deacon  in  the  First  church  of  Camden,  and  for 
more  than  a  half  century  he  was  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
holding  the  latter  office  at  the  time  of  his  demise.  The  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  his  connection  with  the  Sunday-school  was  made  the  occasion  of  a  beau- 
tiful and  impressive  public  celebration,  which  was  held  in  the  church  and 
which  was  participated  in  by  a  large  gathering.  He  was  a  man  of  broad 
sympathies  and  genial  disposition  and  earnestly  co-operated  with  all  move- 
ments tending  to  benefit  his  fellow  men.  His  name  was  synonymous  with 
all  that  was  honorable  in  both  public  and  jirivate  life,  and  his  example  was 
well  worthy  of  emulation.  Though  he  is  no  more  seen  in  the  circle  of  his 
acquaintance,  his  memory  remains  as  an  unalloyed  benediction  to  all  who 
knew  him,  and  the  story  of  his  life  deserves  a  place  upon  the  pages  of  the 
history  of  his  adopted  city. 


W.    SCOTT   SMITH,    M.  D. 

Dr.  W.  Scott  Smith,  of  Salem,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  is  one  of  the 
most  widely  known  physicians  in  this  community,  where  he  has  an  extended 
practice  among  the  most  desirable  people,  many  of  whom  have  known  him 
since  childhood.  He  was  born  August  5,  1852,  at  Hancock's  Bridge,  his 
parents  lieing  John  and  Ann  (Turner)  Smith. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  567 

Edward  Sinitli.  tlie  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  wealthy  sub- 
ject of  the  EngHsh  crown  and  very  prominent  in  his  native  country.  He 
came  to  America  with  Lord  Baltimore  and  settled  in  Maryland.  One  of  his 
sons,  Edward  Smith,  settled  in  Delaware  and  reared  five  children, — John, 
Charles  William,  Edward,  George  and  Lydia  Ann.  He  was  the  captain  of 
a  vessel  and  most  of  his  time  was  spent  at  sea.  Later  he  moved  to  Hancock's 
Bridge,  this  county,  where  he  died  in  1875,  in  his  seventy-third  year.  His 
wife  was  in  her  eig-hty-fifth  year  at  the  time  of  her  death.  They  were  devout 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

John  Sm.ith  was  born  in  November,  1826,  and  had  his  home  at  Hancock's 
Bridge,  although  his  business,  which  was  that  of  a  sailor,  called  him  away  from 
his  family  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  He  was  a  merchant  seaman  and 
carried  on  his  trade  along  the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  West  Indies  for  many 
years.  He  was  the  coroner  of  Sale  county  at  one  time.  He  was  an  honored 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  death  occurred  April 
19,  1899.  when  he  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  His  mar- 
riage to  Ann  Turner  was  honored  in  the  birth  of  one  child,  our  subject.  The 
mother  entered  her  last  sleep  on  May  27,  1893,  when  in  her  sixty-third  year. 

Dr.  Smith  attended  the  district  schools  of  Hancock's  Bridge  in  his  earlier 
years  and  there  received  the  foundation  of  an  education  which  places  him 
among  the  best  physicians  of  the  county.  He  then  entered  a  private  estab- 
lishment presided  over  by  Professor  John  Bechtel.  Still  later  he  pursued 
his  studies  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Braden,  D.  D.,  who  taught  a  private 
school  at  Salem  and  was  formerly  one  of  the  professors  of  Princeton.  He 
was  a  student  in  Bellevue  College  in  1872 — the  I-ong  Island  College  Hos- 
pital— and  was  graduated  in  Cincinnati,  in  1873.  He  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  remained  until  1884,  and  in  the  meantime 
he  resumed  his  studies  in  the  Long  Island  Hospital,  in  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1878.  In  1884  he  came  to  this  county  and  purchased  the  old  Han- 
cock homestead,  but  Salem  is  now  his  place  of  residence.  He  has  1-ieen  a 
most  successful  practitioner  and  deserves  the  high  euIog>'  which  is  heartily 
given  him. 

On  ]\Iay  19,  1891,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Dr.  Ellen  Bradway 
Harris,  a  daughter  of  Ouinton  P.  Harris,  of  this  city.  She  is  a  woman  of 
superior  accomplishments,  charming  personality  and  equaled  by  few  of  either 
sex  in  her  chosen  profession.  She  has  made  a  specialty  of  obstetrics  and  the 
diseases  of  women  and  devotes  considerable  time  to  that  practice  in  Brook- 
lyn. Dr.  W.  Scott  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  medical  societies  of  both  Kings 
and  Salem  counties,  and  in  social  relations  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters. 


568  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

C7EORGE  W.  PITHER. 

Out  (if  tlic  'Icptlis  of  liis  mature  wisdom  Bacon  wrote,  "Tlie  pen  is 
mightier  tlian  tlie  sword;"  and  the  truth  of  this  is  verified  with  tlic  passinc^' 
years,  as  books  and  newspapers  make  their  way  into  all  parts  of  the  worl<l. 
molding  public  opinion,  formulating  public  sentiment  and  influencing  public 
action.  There  is  no  more  active  factor  in  the  progress  and  improvement  of 
a  town  or  locality  than  its  newspapers,  and  the  public-spirited,  enterprising 
editor  can  do  more  for  the  general  good  than  any  other  one  agency.  In 
connection  with  his  journalistic  interests  Mr.  Pither  has  had  marked  influence 
upon  the  public  life  of  Swedesboro,  and  at  all  times  is  found  active  in  sup- 
port of  those  measures  which  have  for  their  object  the  substantial  progress 
and  upbuilding  of  this  section  of  the  state. 

A  native  of  Chester,  South  Carolina,  he  was  born  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1855,  3"d  is  a  son  of  George  M.  and  Elizabeth  J.  (Murray)  Pither.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  London,  England,  and  on  coming  to  the  United  States 
located  in  Chester,  where  he  remained  until  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Lake- 
wood,  New  Jersey,  establishing  the  first  paper  published  there.  It  was  called 
the  Brickburt  Times.  In  the  latter  part  of  1870  Mr.  Pither  removed  to 
Swedesboro  and  established  the  Swedesboro  Times,  which  he  published  from 
Januan'  14,  1871,  until  1877.  H's  death  occurred  in  Swedesboro  tlie  fol- 
lowing year. 

George  W.  Pither,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  began  his  educa- 
tion in  che  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  afterward  continued  his  studies  in 
New  Jersey.  His  business  training  was  received  in  his  father's  printing- 
office,  and  here  he  became  familiar  with  the  work  in  its  various  departments, 
[n  1877,  upon  his  father's  retirement,  he  assumed  charge  of  the  Times  and 
continued  its  publication  until  1883,  when  he  sold  the  paper  to  Mr.  Taylor 
and  established  his  present  plant,  in  connection  with  George  Hamilton,  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1886.  Their  partnership  was  continued  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Hamilton,  in  1889,  when  Mr.  Pither  formed  a  partnership  with  Harry 
H.  Batton,  the  relation  being  maintained  until  1891,  since  which  time  our 
subject  has  been  alone  in  business.  The  paper  is  an  independent  journal, 
well  edited  and  having  a  large  circulation.  In  mechanical  workmanship  and 
interesting  news  items  it  is  equal  to  any  published  in  this  section  of  the 
state,  and  the  enterprise  has  been  attended  with  gratifying  financial  success. 
Throughout  his  life  Mr.  Pither  has  been  connected  with  journalistic  inter- 
ests, and  his  long  experience  in  the  newspaper  field  well  qualifies  him  for 
the  work  to  which  he  is  now  devoting-  his  energies. 

Mr.  Pither  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Georgianna  Zane,  a  daughter 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  569 

of  Benjamin  L.  Zane,  of  Swedesboro,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  three 
children:  Florence  G.,  George  M.  and  Clifford  L.  The  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  are  widely  known  in  the  community, 
enjoying  the  hospitality  of  many  of  the  best  homes  of  the  city. 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  J.  SEWELL. 

General  William  J.  Sewell  was  born  in  the  town  of  Castlebar,  county  INIayo, 
Ireland,  in  1835,  and  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  age.  He  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  was  commissioned 
as  captain  of  the  Fifth  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  He  served  during  the  war 
and  was  brevetted  brigadier  general  for  distinguished  services  at  Chan- 
cellorsville,  where  he  made  the  celebrated  charge  in  command  of  the  Second 
New  Jersey  Brigade,  captured  nine  stands  of  colors,  and  recaptured  the  regi- 
mental standard  of  a  New  York  regiment.  He  was  alsoi  brevetted  major 
general  for  gallant  services  during  the  war  and  awarded  a  medal  of  honor 
by  Congress  for  distinguished  gallantry  on  the  field  at  Chancellorsville.  He 
participated  in  almost  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was 
wounded  at  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  On  May  25,  1900,  General 
Sewell  received  the  distinguished  honor  of  the  election  to  the  presidency  of 
the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  This  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to 
him,  as  the  appointment  was  conferred  at  Fredericksburg,  where  the  meeting 
of  the  society  was  held,  in  which  vicinity  those  gallant  deeds  that  gave  him  so 
high  a  place  on  the  rolls  of  that  army  occurred. 

After  the  war  he  became  connected  with  the  railroads  of  New  Jersey  that 
are  branches  of  the  Pennsylvania  system,  of  several  of  which  he  is  an  execu- 
tive of^cer,  and  president  of  the  West  Jersey  &  Seashore  Railroad  Company. 

He  was  elected  state  .senator  for  Camden  county  in  1872,  re-elected  in 
1875,  and  again  in  1878,  and  was  president  of  the  senate  when  his  party  was 
in  power.  General  Sewell's  service  in  the  state  senate  covered  the  period  of 
the  amendments  to  the  New  Jersey  state  constitution,  the  resolution  which 
created  the  commission  to  suggest  the  same  having  been  introduced  by  him. 
He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  construction  and  passage  of  all  the  general 
laws,  including  the  railroad  law.  his  vote  being  the  casting  one  on  the  passage 
of  the  first  railroad  municipal  tax  bill;  and  the  present  taxation  clause,  which 
brings  the  state  such  a  large  revenue,  in  the  municipal  corporation  act,  was 
his  suggestion.  While  yet  a  member  of  the  legislature  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  in  1881.  as  the  successor  of  Theodore  F.  Randolph, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  his  term,  in  1887.    He  was  again  elected  in  1895 


570  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  THP  PIRST 

to  the  United  States  senate  to  succeed  Hon.  J.  R.  McPherson.  His  course 
as  a  Senator  has  inchcaterl  liow  close  he  has  been  in  touch  with  the  interests 
of  the  state  he  represents,  ami  how  faithfully  the  sentiments  of  his  constitu- 
ents have  been  voiced  by  him  in  congress,  where  his  action,  based  upon  long 
public  experience  and  a  peculiar  adaptability  and  genius  for  legislation,  has 
given  him  a  national  reputation  in  which  every  Jerseyman  feels  a  personal 
pride.  Matters  of  the  greatest  moment  have  been  entrusted  to  bis  decision, 
and  his  work  is  manifest  in  some  of  the  most  vital  and  far-reaching  measures 
of  that  body. 

He  was  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  Conventions  of  1876,  1880, 
1888,  1892,  1896  and  1900,  on  each  occasion  being  made  chairman  of  his 
delegation.  He  was  also  appointed  one  of  the  national  commissioners  for 
New  Jersey  of  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago.  He  was  elected  by  congress, 
upon  the  death  of  General  McClellan,  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of 
the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers  as  a  recognition  of  his 
services  and  valor  during  the  war,  and  served  as  the  vice  president  of  this 
body  until  the  first  of  January,  1900,  when,  owing  to  the  retirement  of  Gen- 
eral W.  B.  Franklin,  he  was  elected  the  president  of  the  same,  serving  in  this 
capacity  for  a  few  months,  until  increasing  public  duties  and  lack  of  time  to 
thoroughly  canvass  the  details  incident  to  the  position  compelled  him  reluct- 
antly to  relinquish  the  same.  He  was  then  re-elected  vice  president,  which 
ofifice  he  now  tills. 

Nothing  gives  the  General  more  pleasure  than  to  serve  the  interests  of  the 
"boys  in  blue"  and  to  care  for  their  comfort  at  the  National  Home,  which  has 
been  established  by  the  government  for  those  who  cannot  maintain  them- 
selves. He  is  in  command  of  the  National  Guard  of  the  state,  and  connected 
with  the  management  of  various  banks,  trust  companies  and  philanthropic 
societies. 

General  Sewell  has  been  a  Republican  all  his  life,  and  has  devoted  a  large 
part  of  his  time  to  the  success  of  his  party,  both  in  the  state  and  nation.  He 
has  always  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  has  never  swerved  in  per- 
forming his  duty  as  a  citizen,  soldier  or  statesman,  never  faltering  when  every- 
thing seemed  dark,  keeping  continuously  in  the  front,  receiving  hard  knocks 
but  never  dri\'en  from  the  field,  always  striving  for  success  and  to  grasp  vic- 
tory from  defeat.  Few  people  are  aware  of 'the  struggles  by  which  he  has 
moimted,  step  by  step,  to  his  present  position,  and  his  career  shows  what  may 
be  accomplished  by  a  strong,  resolute  man,  whose  course  has  always  been 
guided  by  the  principles  of  honesty  and  justice,  who  has  the  true  altruistic 
desire  to  serve  the  people  and  the  doing  of  that  which  is  right  and  for  the  best 
interests  of  all.     His  life  has  been  marked  by  loyalty  to  truth  and  principle. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  571 

the  upholding-  of  the  interest  and  welfare  of  the  public  even  to  the  detriment 
of  personal  advantage;  by  social  usefulness,  and  works  of  charity  and  kind- 
ness. Such  men  make  the  state:  they  are  its  safeguard  in  danger,  and  its 
trusted  counselors,  shaping  its  course  and  policy  to  their  true  and  legitimate 
end. 


GEORGE  AY.  FRAZIER. 


The  Frazier  family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  Three  generations  back  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  there  landed  in  this  countiy  from  Scotland  two  brothers 
by  the  name  of  Frazier,  who  separated  shortly  after  their  arrival  here,  one 
of  them  settling  in  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey,  where  he  reared  his 
family,  his  son  James  being  the  grandfather  of  George  W.  James  Frazier 
and  his  son  Daniel  were  both  born  at  Medford,  Burlington  county.  Daniel 
Frazier  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  years  in  Medford. 
In  185 1  he  moved  to  a  place  near  Pole  Tavern,  Salem  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  a  few  years  and  where  he  died  in  1865.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  an  active  and  influential  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  served  as  a  class-leader  and 
filled  other  offices;  and  in  his  every-day  life  he  practiced  the  principles  of 
the  religion  which  he  professed.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna 
Phillips,  was  a  daughter  of  James  Phillips  and  was  of  German  descent.  She 
died  in  1859.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  and  of  that  number 
six  are  now  living,  viz. :  William,  of  Lambertville,  New  Jersey;  Isaac,  who 
resides  near  Elmer,  Salem  county;  George  W.,  whose  name  forms  the  head- 
ing of  this  sketch;  Townsend,  who  lives  near  Elmer;  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles 
Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania;  and  Margaret,  wife  of  Jesse  Smith, 
near  Elmer. 

George  W.  Frazier  was  born  at  ]\Iedford,  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey, 
February  14,  1832,  and  in  his  youth  had  no  other  educational  advantages 
than  those  afiforded  by  the  common  schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
penter, and  worked  at  that  trade  in  Gloucester  county  for  a  few  years.  After 
his  father's  death  George  \V.  took  charge  of  the  home  farm  and  conducted 
its  operations  for  a  number  of  years.  Since  1884  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Elmer,  where  he  has  a  pleasant  home  and  where  for  some  years  he  has  lived 
retired.  He  owns  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Salem  county  and  fifteen  acres  in 
Gloucester  county. 

Mr.  Frazier  has  always  been  interested  to  some  extent  in  public  affairs, 
and  for  two  years,  from  1894,  was  one  of  the  city  councilnien  of  Elmer.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbvterian  church  of  Elmer  for  a  number  of 


572  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

years,  aiul  in  his  cliurch  lias  l:)ccn  honored  with  ofl'icial  position,  such  as 
trustee,  etc. 

Octolier  5,  1863,  Mr.  Frazier  married  Miss  Sarah  Nixon,  a  daughter  of 
Martin  Nixon;  and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children,  the  elder  of  whom. 
Daniel  N.,  married  Miss  Gertrude  Ship;ner. 


SAMUEL  H.  LADD. 


In  his  administration  of  municipal  afTairs  Samuel  Hopkins  Ladd  has  man- 
ifested marked  loyalty  to  the  interests  of  Woodbui-y,  and  has  shown  forth 
excellent  executive  ability,  his  service  as  mayor  being  characterized  bv  capa- 
bility, practical  management  and  commendable  progressiveness.  He  was 
appointed  to  the  po-sition  in  1898,  elected  in  1899  and  re-elected  in  1900,  so 
that  he  is  now  serving  for  the  third  term.  As  a  business  man  he  is  reliable, 
energetic  and  trustworthy,  and  the  same  qualities  are  manifest  in  his  political 
career,  w^hich  extends  over  a  period  of  a  qviarter  of  a  century  of  close  connec- 
tion with  the  political  interests  of  the  city  in  which  he  makes  his  home. 

Mr.  Ladd  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  state,  the 
settlement  of  his  ancestry  having-  been  made  in  the  New  World  in  1678.  John 
Ladd,  the  founder  of  the  New  Jersey  branch  of  the  family,  purchased  land  in 
Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey,  in  1688,  becoming  the  owner  of  what  is 
now  known  as  Washington  Park,  but  was  formerly  known  as  Ladd  Cove. 
His  descendants  have  since  been  found  in  the  county  and  have  borne  an  im- 
portant part  in  promoting  public  progress  along  many  substantial  lines. 
Their  religious  faith  was  that  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Jonathan  Ladd  was 
the  great-grandfather  of  Samuel  H.  Ladd.  and  Samuel  Ladd  was  his  grand- 
father. In  the  early  days  John  Ladd  followed  surs'eying,  and  during  the  in- 
tervening years  most  of  the  representatives  of  the  name  have  held  large 
landed  estates  and  have  been  people  of  considerable  means. 

Samuel  H.  Ladd,  Sr.,  the  father  of  Woodbury's  mayor,  was  for  many  years 
a  leading  and  influential  citizen  of  Woodbun,%  and  died  in  this  city  on  the 
6th  of  March,  1866.  He  married  Sarah  B.  Johnson,  a  daughter  of  Shelby 
Johnson,  of  Virginia,  and  unto  them  were  born  three  children.  William,  the 
eldest,  died  in  the  army  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years.  Cora,  the  youngest. 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year.  Samuel  Hopkins  Ladd.  the  second  member  of 
the  family,  was  born  in  Woodbun.-,  December  15.  1849,  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town  pursued  his  preliminary  education.  He  was  after- 
ward a  student  of  civil  engineering  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  fol- 
lowed that  profession  for  some  time,  but  has  long  been  engaged  in  the  to- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  573 

bacco  business  in  Philadelphia,  being  located  at  No.  3380  Front  street, 
where  the  firm  of  Johnson  it  Ladd  is  now  doing  a  large  and  profitable  busi- 
ness, their  trade  steadily  increasing  and  yielding  to  them  a  handsome  income. 
Their  business  methods  are  thoroughly  reliable  and  their  keen  discrimination 
and  unfaltering  energy  have  secured  to  them  very  creditable  and  gratifying 
success. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Ladd  has  been  a  stalwart  supporter  of 
Republican  principles  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in 
Woodbury  and  Gloucester  county.  For  twenty-five  years  he  has  served  as 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  his  marked  impartiality  and  thorough  understand- 
ing of  the  law  applicable  to  the  cases  coming  under  his  jurisdiction  have  made 
him  an  officer  well  deserving  of  the  public  confidence.  He  was  also  city  sur- 
veyor for  a  number  of  years,  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  thirteen 
years,  and  now  as  mayor  of  Woodbury  he  exercises  his  official  prerogatives 
in  support  of  every  measure  which  he  believes  will  promote  the  public  good 
along  material,  social,  intellectual  and  moral  lines. 

In  1879  Mr.  Ladd  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Kate  B.  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  L.  and  Cora  V.  Johnson,  of  Virginia.  Three  children 
have  blessed  this  union:  Cora  V.,  Sarah  and  Mary  C,  all  at  home.  The 
family  reside  in  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  176  South  Broad  street,  in  Wood- 
bur}^,  and  the  Ladd  household  is  celebrated  for  its  gracious  hospitality.  .  Mr. 
Ladd  has  long  been  an  active  factor  in  affairs  of  moment  in  the  city,  and  his 
close  identification  with  its  interests  makes  his  history  an  integral  part  of 
the  records  of  the  city.  For  twenty-three  years  he  has  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Fire  Company..  Socially  he  is  connected  with  Florence  Lodge, 
No.  87,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  with  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  iWoodbury,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopalian  church.  Honor  and  integrity  are  synonymous 
with  his  name,  and  he  enjoys  the  respect,  confidence  and  high  regard  of  the 
communitv. 


GEORGE  BARRETT. 


Prominent  in  Grand  Army  circles  in  New  Jersey,  George  Barrett  is  now 
serving  as  department  commander  of  the  state  and  has  the  highest  respect 
of  his  old  army  comrades.  During  the  civil  war  he  "donned  the  blue"  and 
followed  the  old  flag  to  southern  battle-fields.  He  was  one  of  the  soldier 
"boys,"  for  the  war  had  closed  before  he  had  attained  his  majority,  but  the 
valor  and  bravery  which  he  displayed  was  equal  to  that  of  the  veteran  whose 
years  were  twice  his  own.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  been  faithful  to 
duty,  and  he  ranks  among  the  representative  men  of  Camden. 


574  BIOGRAPHICAL  IIISrORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Mr.  Barrett  was  Inirn  in  En^'lancl,  November  23, 1845.  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  a  family  that  for  generations  was  connected  with  the  manufacturing 
interests  of  the  "merrie  isle."  His  father,  George  Barrett,  was  a  native  of 
England  and  in  1(850  came  with  liis  family  to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Indiana  counlw  Pcnns\l\ania,  where  he  is  still  living,  a  hale  and  hearty  old 
gentleman  of  eighty-five  years.  He  has  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
shoes  both  in  his  native  country  and  in  his  adopted  land.  In  his  religious 
belief  he  is  a  Baptist  and  is  very  zealous  in  behalf  of  the  church.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Frances  Bexon.  who  died  in  1892,  leaving  three  children:  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  W.  Patchin,  of  Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania;  Jennie,  who 
is  living  in  the  same  county;  and  George,  of  this  review. 

George  Barrett  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  pru^ents 
to  the  New  \\'or]d.  Pie  attended  school  through  the  winter  months,  but  in 
the  simuner  season  worked  at  various  occupations  which  would  enable  him 
to  provide  for  his  own  maintenance.  He  early  engag'ed  in  the  lumbering  and 
rafting  business  and  was  in  the  employ  of  his  brother-in-law.  A.  W.  Patchin, 
of  Patchinville,  Pennsylvania.  In  1861,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  at- 
tempted to  enlist,  but  was  not  received  on  account  of  his  extreme  youth. 
Later,  however,  he  joined  the  Two  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  of  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  which  was  the  first  to  enter  Richmond.  He  remained 
at  the  front  until  after  the  stars  and  stripes  were  unfurled  in  the  southern 
Confederacy  and  then  returning  home  entered  school  again.  After  a  year 
spent  in  study  he  became  the  bookkeeper  for  his  brother-in-law  and  largely 
had  charge  of  his  business  until  1877.  when  he  came  to  Camden  and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  a  sawmill  owned  by  S.  B.  Garrison,  his  father-in-law. 
When  the  senior  partner  died,  the  business  was  sold,  but  ]\Ir.  Barrett  has 
recently  purchased  fifteen  acres  of  land  on  the  river  front  with  the  intention 
of  resuming  operations  as  a  lumber  manufacturer.  He  is  now  a  director  of 
the  New  Jersey  Deposit  and  Trust  Company,  and  in  financial  circles  he  sus- 
tains an  unassailable  reputation.  Through  his  capable  management  of  his 
business  affairs  he  has  acquired  wealth. 

On  th.e  i8th  of  February, 1 871.  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Mahaffey,  whose 
people  were  long  connected  with  the  lumlier  interests  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
now  have  three  children :  Mary,  the  wife  of  H.  N.  Martin,  of  Camden;  Floyd, 
and  Frank  J.,  who  are  also  living  in  Camden.  Mr.  Barrett  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  both  to  the  chapter  and  commander}'.  He 
has  long  been  a  prominent  factor  in  Grand  Army  circles,  and  in  1893  was 
the  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  state.  In  June,  1899,  was  elected  the 
department  ct:>mmander  of  New  Jersey.  He  has  also  been  actively  connected 
with  political  interests  and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles.   He 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEJV  JERSEY.  575 

served  as  postmaster  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  Patchinville,  Pennsylvania, 
and  from  1884  until  1888  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  of  Camden.  In 
1893  he  -was  elected  sheriff  on  a  refomi  movement,  although  he  had  great 
opposition.  In  1897  he  was  a  candidate  for  mayor.  For  four  years  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Republican  county  committee,  and  his  efficient  management 
was  an  active  factor  in  producing  very  desirable  results  for  his  party.  His 
social  qualities  render  him  popular,  and  no  man  in  Camden  is  more  generally 
liked  than  George  Barrett. 


LEWIS  W.  FOWLER. 


Lewis  West  Fowler  is  a  son  of  William  M.  and  Harriet  T.  (Laner)  Fowler, 
and  was  born  in  Lewiston.  Delaware.  August  25,  1848.  His  father,  a  native 
of  Milton,  Delaware,  was  born  April  13,  1805,  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  birthplace.  He  was  connected  with  the  fisheries  and  afterward 
was  a  boatman  in  the  custom-house  at  Lewiston,  in  which  city  his  death  oc- 
curred. He  was  married  twice,  his  first  union  being  with  Hattie  M.  Shank- 
lin,  whom  he  married  October  6,  1832.  They  became  the  parents  of  four 
children  :  George,  born  September  22,  1833;  Richard  L.,  February  15,  1837; 
Hettie  Ann,  July  13,  1839;  and  Mary  Ann,  October  3,  1840.  The  mother  died 
February  18,  1843,  and  on  the  15th  of  November  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Fow- 
ler married  Harriet  T.  Laner.  Their  children  were:  William,  who  w^as  born 
June  I,  1844,  and  is  now  deceased;  Irving,  who  was  born  October  31.  1845, 
and  died  in  childhood;  and  Lewis  iWest.  The  mother's  death  occurred  July 
4,  1886,  when  she  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  and  the  father 
died  January  6.  1893,  at  about  ninety  years  of  age. 

Lewis  W.  Fowler  obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Dela- 
ware, and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  sailing  on  the  Delaware  river,  serving 
an  apprenticeship  as  a  pilot.  His  term  of  service  continued  five  years.dur- 
ing  which  time  he  completely  mastered  the  responsible  duties  which  fall  to 
the  lot  of  the  river  pilots.  He  learned  every  bend  and  turn  in  the  stream,  its 
shoals  and  depths,  and  throughout  his  life  he  has  remained  in  this  service,  be- 
ing well  known  to  those  who  are  connected  with  marine  transportation.  In 
February,  1898,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  he  was  carried  from 
Delaware  cape  to  Marseilles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Delaware  Pilots'  Associa- 
tion and  enjoys  a  high  reputation  for  his  skill  and  great  care  in  taking  the 
boats  through  the  channel  to  their  safe  destination. 

On  the  5th  of  June.  1875.  Mr.  Fowler  married  Emma  M.  Keeny,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Spotzwood.  Her  father  was  born  at  Gettysburg.  Pennsyl- 
vania, learned  the  tailor's  trade  and  for  many  years  followed  that  pursuit  in 


576  BIOGRAPHICAL  II I  STORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  where  his  death  occurred.  He  married  Harriet 
Homer  and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten  children, — Robert,  Jane,  Julia. 
Edward,  James,  Emily,  William,  Ida,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Of  these 
children  James  Spotzwood  has  been  in  the  government  printing-office  smce 
President  Buchanan's  administration  !  The  father  was  a  Whig  in  his  political 
associations  in  early  life,  but  afterward  he  became  a  Democrat.  He  was  an 
intimate  friend  of  James  Buchanan  and  also  of  Horace  Greeley. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Fowler  took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  1888,  since  which  time  he  has 
resided  in  Cape  May.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  the  support  of 
the  men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Methodist.  His  life  occupation  is  one  of  great  responsibility,  and  the  fidelity 
with  which  he  performs  his  duties  has  won  the  highest  commendation.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  loyal  and  true,  and  at  no  time  has  any  trust  reposed  in  him 
been  betrayed. 


FOGG  FAINIILY. 


The  pioneer  of  the  Fogg  family  in  New  Jersey,  and  when  and  where  he 
located,  cannot  be  definitely  determined;  but  it  is  known  that  he  was  among 
the  earlier  settlers.  The  first  record  is  that  of  Joseph  Fogg,  who  married 
Marj'  Street,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Joseph,  and  a  daughter,  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried Luke  Stretch.  Joseph  married  Hannah  Hoover,  by  whom  he  had  ten 
children,  viz.:  Mary,  born  August  19,  1809,  died  September  30,  1809: 
Lydia,  born  March  20,  1810,  died  December  22,  1868;  she  married  Joseph 
Ashton  and  latterly  Abner  Patrick;  Luke  S.,  bom  February  12,  1813,  died 
September  25,  1886;  Joseph,  born  April  4,  1815,  died  July  21,  1878;  Aaron, 
born  April  14,  1817,  died  July  13,  1887;  Sarah,  born  June  24,  1818,  died 
June  27,  1842;  she  married  Edward  Clummor;  Elijah,  born  February  26, 
1822,  died  September  14,  1822;  Ebenezer,  born  July  27,  1823,  died  January 
6,  1824;  Susan  S.,  born  January  5,  1825,  died  October  3,  1838;  and  Caleb  S., 
born  December  18,  1827,  died  August  3,  1872. 

Luke  S.  Fogg  was  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  his  time;  he  was 
also  engaged  in  merchandising,  dealing  in  granite,  and  amassed  a  handsome 
fortune.  He  married  Ann  Harris,  who  was  born  June  17,  1813,  and  died  De- 
cember 17,  1841.  They  had  two  children:  Hannah  H.,  born  September  7, 
1838,  married  Ephraim  C.  Smith;  and  John  S.,  born  December  27,  1840,  and 
died  February  2,  1884.  Mr.  Fogg  married  for  his  second  wife  Phebe  B.  AIul- 
ford,  who  was  born  February  2,  1832,  and  died  February  11,  1884. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  577 

BENJAMIN  A.   HEADLEY. 

Benjamin  Allen  Heatlley,  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  fruit  and  produce 
dealers  in  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey,  and  the  proprietor  of  the  large 
store-house  in  Swedesboro.  is  in  the  fourth  generation  from  the  ancestor 
Richard  Headley,  a  weaver  by  trade,  who  came  from  Germany  and  located 
at  an  early  day  in  southern  New  Jersey,  where  he  became  a  farmer.  He 
married  Lydia  Dindlebeck,  by  whom  were  born  John,  Bateman,  Lawrence, 
Richard,  Thomas,  Charles  and  Abagail.  His  grandfather,  John  Headley,  the 
eldest  son  of  Richard,  the  ancestor,  was  born  in  Gloucester  county,  followed 
farming,  and  married  Sarah  Elkington,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children : 
Jacob,  William,  Isaiah,  J'oseph  E.,  Mary  E.,  Lydia  A.  and  Anna  M.  His 
father  Joseph  E.  Headley,  the  fourth  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in 
Gloucester  county,  December  20,  1827,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  worked  as  a  farm  hand  until  i860,  when  he  rented  a  farm.  In 
September,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Thirty-eighth  New  Jersey  Vol- 
unteers, and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  from  the  war  he 
rented  farms  until  1882,  when  he  was  made  the  superintendent  of  a  large  farm 
in  Cumberland  county.  In  1886  he  retired  from  business  and  removed  to 
Swedesboro.  He  is  a  Republican  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
In  January,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Caroline  D.,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Carter,  of  Gloucester  county,  who  bore  him  seven  children;  Martha  A., 
George  C,  Allen  C,  Benjamin  A.,  Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy;  Amanda  B., 
wife  of  Charles  Cranes,  of  Wellsbcro,  Pennsylvania,  and  Mary  E.,  the  wife 
of  Alonzo  Vanneman,  of  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey. 

Benjamin  Allen  Headley,  the  son  of  Joseph  E.  Headley  and  Caroline  B., 
nee  Carter,  was  born  in  Harrison  township,  Gloucester  county,  New  Jersey, 
May  7,  1857.  Attending  the  public  schools  tmtil  he  was  fourteen  years  of 
age,  he  for  a  brief  period  thereafter  worked  on  a  farm,  and  subsequently  em- 
barking in  business  for  himself  laid  the  foundation  and  developed  his  pres- 
ent business.  Starting  from  small  beginnings,  very  reticent,  depending  alone 
upon  his  own  energy  and  independent  resources,  he  is  a  typical  example  of 
the  self-made  man.  In  connection  with  his  other  business  he  is  the  general 
agent  for  the  New  York  Horse  Manure  Company;  he  is  one  of  the  largest 
manufacturers  of  vegetable  crates  in  the  county;  owns  and  operates  seven- 
teen miles  of  telephone  line:  and  owns  and  runs  a  freight  boat,  doing  the 
largest  general  business  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Headley  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  from  his  large  business 
connections  commands  a  wide  influence  in  the  afifairs  of  the  county. 

In  November,  1885,  he  was  married  to  Israella  T.,  a  daughter  of  Israel 
n— KK 


578  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Silvers  and  Emma,  nee  Talmain,  of  Swedesboro;  and  they  have  five  chilth-en  : 
Ralph  S.,  Harold  B.,  Helen  M.,  Willard  T.  and  Robert  L. 


MARY  APGAR. 


^Irs.  Geo.  C.  Apgar.  nee  ^lar\-  Tomson,  was  born  in  Hunterdon  county, 
New  Jersey,  December  31,  1828,  the  daughter  of  John  D.  Tomson,  and 
Jemima,  nee  Cooley.  Her  husband,  George  C.  Apgar,  to  whom  she  was  mar- 
ried at  Milford,  in  her  native  county,  November  5,  1859,  was  also  born  in 
that  county,  June  15,  1821.  He  was  the  son  of  John  P.  and  Charity  Apgar 
and  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  county.  In  1883  he  removed  to  Deptford 
township,  Gloucester  county,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  a 
highly  respected  citizen,  dying  February  3,  1899.  Their  children  were  :  ]\lary 
Emily,  the  wife  of  John  S.  Hagerman,  of  Camden,  to  whom  two  children — 
Grace  C.  and  Leslie  T. — have  been  born ;  Peter  Elmer,  who  married  Mary  E. 
Fetrow  and  now  resides  in  Deptford  township  and  has  one  child,  Anna  E. ; 
and  John  M.,  who  married  Letitia  J.  Tyson,  by  whom  he  has  one  son, 
George  R. 

Mrs.  Apgar's  father,  John  D.  Tomson,  was  born  November  14,  1793.  in 
Hunterdon  county,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life  as  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
miller.  By  his  marriage  to  Jemima  Cooley  his  children  were:  Peter  C,  born 
September  30,  1819,  now  deceased;  Margaret,  born  September  30,  1822  now 
the  wife  of  Howard  Barker;  Nathan,  bom  May  21,  1824,  now  deceased;  Re- 
bekah,  born  May  4,  1826,  deceased,  married  Lorenz  Edmonds;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Apgar;  Ann,  born  March  12,  1831,  deceased,  who  married  William  Wood- 
ward; Catharine,  born  December  18,  1833,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Wyker;  and 
Abigail,  born  April  30,  1837.  now  the  wife  of  Reuben  McPherson. 


ORVILLE  E.  HOYT. 


The  task  of  writing  the  biographies  of  the  living  representatives  of  any 
community  is  an  exceedingly  difficult  one,  because  of  the  prevailing  modesty 
of  the  successful  business  man,  who  almost  invariably  manifests  a  certain  re- 
pugnance to  anything  that  smacks  of  personal  notoriety  or  prominence  and 
thus  discourages  even  friendly  attempts  to  uncover  the  secret  of  his  success. 
Genuine  success  is  not  likely  to  be  the  result  of  mere  chance  or  fortune,  but 
is  something  to  be  labored  for  and  sought  out  with  long  sustained  effort. 
Ours  is  a  utilitarian  age,  and  the  life  of  everv  su(?cessful  man  bears  a  lesson 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  579 

which,  as  told  in  our  contemporary  narration,  perhaps  is  productive  of  the 
greatest  good.  Thus  there  is  a  due  measure  of  satisfaction  in  presenting 
even  the  briefest  outhne  of  the  hfe  and  accomplishments  of  such  a  man. 

Orv'ille  Emmons  Hoyt  is  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  South  Jersey 
Republican  at  Hammonton,  Atlantic  county.  He  was  born  at  Mauch  Chunk, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  12th  of  February,  1846,  a  son  of  Lewis  and  Martha 
(Emmons)  Hoyt,  the  former  born  in  Greene,  New  York,  and  the  latter  in 
Adams  county,  Maine.  The  father  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade.  Orville  E. 
Hoyt  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  after  putting  aside  his  text-books  he  learned  the  printer's  trade.  In  1864 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  December  of  that  year  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  Two  Hundred  and  Second  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantrj', 
for  sers'ice  in  the  civil  war,  in  which  he  served  as  a  private  until  August  7, 
1865,  when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  After  returning  from  the 
war  he  resided  in  Philadelphia  until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Ypsilanti, 
Michigan,  and  a  few  years  later,  in  1876,  took  up  his  residence  in  Dexter,  that 
state.  From  the  latter  year  until  1880  he  was  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the 
Leader,  and  then  came  to  Hammonton,  New  Jersey,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  July  i,  1880,  he  purchased  the  South  Jersey  Republican,  and 
under  his  able  management  this  paper,  now  in  its  thirty-eighth  year,  has 
become  one  of  the  leading  journals  in  the  county. 

In  his  political  relations  our  subject  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  from  1885  until  1890  he  served  his  city  as  collector  and  treasurer. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  which  organization  he 
joined  in  1865,  and  in  1872  was  made  a  member  of  the  Good  Templars'  so- 
ciety. In  1867  he  became  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternities,  and  is  now  a  past  grand  of  the  former.  Religiously  he 
holds  membership  in  the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Hoyt  has  been  a  leading  factor 
in  the  progress  of  Hammonton,  and  educational,  church,  and  social  interests 
owe  their  promotion  in  a  considerable  degree  to  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Hoyt  was  married  in  Hammonton,  September  22,  1867,  to  Miss 
Laura  Adella  Potter,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born  four  children,  namely: 
Lewis  Arthur,  June  18,  1870;  Annie  Laura,  September  7,  1872;  William  Or- 
ville, August  24,  1S74;  and  John  Ezra,  March  8,  1879. 


CLAYTON  WISTAR. 


Prominent  among  the  energetic,  far-seeing  and  successful  business  men 
of  southwestern  New  Jersey  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  life  history 
most  happily  illustrates  what  may  be  attained  by  faithful  and  continued  ef- 


58o  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

fort  in  carrying  ont  an  honest  purpose.  Integrity,  activity  and  energy  have 
been  the  crowning  points  of  his  success,  and  liis  connection  with  the  commer- 
cial interests  of  Salem  has  been  of  decided  advantage  to  this  section  of  the 
state,  promoting  its  material  welfare  in  no  uncertain  manner.  He  is  now 
connected  with  the  most  extensive  lumber  business  of  Salem,  and  his  dili- 
gence, keen  discrimination  and  strict  conformity  to  the  ethics  of  commercial 
life  have  gained  him  a  most  gratifying  prosperity. 

His  ancestral  history  is  one  of  close  association  with  the  development 
and  progress  of  the  state  along  material  lines,  for  since  colonial  days  the 
W'istars  have  figured  prominently  in  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the 
commonwealth.  In  the  year  1717  Caspar  and  John  Wistar  crossed  the  At- 
lantic from  Hilchbach  in  the  electorate  of  Heidelberg.  Germany,  and  later 
their  sister  also  came  to  America.  Caspar  Wistar,  the  direct  ancestor  of  the 
family  to  which  our  subject  belongs,  was  born  at  Hilchbach  in  1696  and  on 
the  16th  of  September,  171 7,  took  up  his  residence  in  Philadelphia.  He  sub- 
sequently purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  and 
near  the  town  of  Alloway.  in  1738,  established  the  first  successful  glass  fac- 
tory in  this  country,  having  secured  the  services  of  four  skilled  glass-blowers 
of  Germany,  who  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  enterprise.  The  deed  of  the 
ground  for  the  factory  site  is  dated  1739.  and  the  business  was  probably 
begun  the  following  year.  The  factory  with  its  accompanying  building  and 
the  little  settlement  that  grew  up  around  there  were  known  as  Wistarburg. 
While  he  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  land  near  Alloway,  Caspar  Wistar  did 
not  reside  upon  it,  but  made  his  home  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  married 
]\Iarch  26,  1726,  to  Catherine,  a  daughter  of  Catherine  and  Derrick  John- 
son, and  to  them  were  born  se\-en  children:  Richard,  ^Margaret,  Catherine, 
Joshua,  Rebecca,  Sarah  and  Casper. 

Of  this  family  Richard  Wistar  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  was  l)orn  in  Philadelphia,  July  5,  1727,  and  for  many  years 
was  prominently  engaged  in  merchandising  there.  His  place  of  business 
was  on  the  north  side  of  Market  street,  between  Second  and  Third  streets, 
and  his  residence  was  on  Chestnut  street,  above  Third  street,  while  he  also 
had  a  country  residence  on  North  Broad  street.  He  was  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  city  and  in  connection  with  his  mercantile  interests  he 
continued  the  conduct  of  the  glass  factory  established  by  his  father  and 
which  was  afterward  conducted  for  one  year  liy  his  son  John,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  who  inherited  all  of  his  father's  interests,  in- 
cluding the  glass  works,  six  hundred  acres  of  land  and  other  real  and  per- 
sonal property.  Richard  Wistar  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
and  a  man  of  very  decided  character  and  of  unassailable  reputation.     He 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  581 

occupied  a  leading  position  in  the  business  and  social  life  of  Philadelphia 
and  commanded  uniform  respect. 

He  was  married  November  27,  1751,  to  Miss  Sarah  Wyatt,  of  Salem, 
and  their  children  were  as  follows:  Bartholomew,  born  August  26,  1754, 
died  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1756.  Richard  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, July  20,  1756,  and  died  in  1821.  John  was  the  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject.  Casper  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  13,  1760,  was 
a  celebrated  physician  of  his  day,  was  the  founder  of  the  Wistar  Club,  was 
an  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  and  died  November  25,  185 1.  Eliz- 
abeth Wyatt,  born  December  22,  1766,  died  in  Salem,  New  Jersey,  in 
August,  1855.  Catherine,  born  January  29,  1770,  died  in  Philadelphia  in 
November,   1820. 

John  Wistar,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, May  7,  1859,  and  died  in  Salem,  New  Jersey,  March  16,  181 5.  He 
owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Salem  county,  three  miles  from  the  town  of 
Salem,  and  for  many  years  was  a  leatler  in  the  public  life  of  his  locality. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  Salem  county  almshouse  and  was  an  active  pro- 
moter of  all  worthy  movements  and  measures  for  the  public  good.  His 
religious  belief  was  in  accord  with  the  teachings  of  the  orthodox  branch 
of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was  married  October  17,  1781,  to  Miss 
Charlotte  Newbold,  a  daughter  of  Clayton  and  Mai"y  Newbold,  of  Bur- 
lington county.  She  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Burlington  county, 
January  29,  1762,  and  died  October  26.  18 ig.'  Nine  children  were 
born  to  John  and  Charlotte  Wistar.  Sarah,  born  November  11, 
1782,  died  in  Philadelphia,  in  1794;  Mary  born  April  8,  1786,  became  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Davis,  of  Philadelphia,  and  died  July  12.  1852.  Elizabeth, 
born  October  15,  1788,  died  in  April,  1799.  Bartholomew,  born  Novem- 
ber 25,  1790,  died  in  Philadelphia,  August  5,  1847.  Clayton,  who  was  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  February'  23,  1793,  resided  on  a  farm 
near  Salem,  and  died  October  10,  1840.  Caspar,  born  February  4,  1799, 
died  in  Salem,  January  31,  1872.  Charlotte,  born  July  18,  1797,  was  the 
wife  of  Jonathan  Freeland.  and  died  July  5,  1850.  Harriet,  born  March 
12,  1800,  died  April  g,  1S54.  Catherine,  born  November  27.  1802.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Thomas  Evans,  and  died  December  5,  1875. 

Clayton  Wistar,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Warrington  township,  Salem  countv,  February  23,  1793,  and  became  the 
owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  on  which  he  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty- 
seven  years.  He  was  a  Whig  in  his  political  associations  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Friends,  attending  the  orthodox  meetings  in  Salem. 


582  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

He  was  twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Mary  Steiner,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Amelia  (Benton)  Steiner.  They  were  married  in  1814,  and  to 
them  were  born  two  children:  John,  horn  November  25,  1815,  was  a 
lumber  merchant  of  Salem,  and  died  in  this  city  in  December,  1852,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  He  married  Letitia  N.  Acton,  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Sarah  Acton,  and  they  had  one  son,  John,  who  married 
Anna  B.  Harlan.  He  is  a  resident  of  Salem,  but  is  employed  as  a  traveling 
salesman  by  the  firm  of  P.  D.  Wood  &  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  Mrs. 
Mary  Wistar  died  in  December,  1825,  and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
afterward  married  the  widow  of  Reeve  J.  Medford,  of  Burlington  county, 
New  Jersey,  in  1827.  They  had  one  son,  Josiah,  who  was  formerly  a 
farmer,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  He  is  a  director  in  the  West  Jersey 
Railroad  Company,  has  settled  many  estates  and  is  a  very  prominent  and 
honored  citizen,  whose  sterling  worth  has  gained  him  the  high  regard  of 
many  friends.  He  now  resides  in  Salem,  and  has  one  child,  Clayton 
Newbold. 

Richard  Wistar,  the  father  of  our  subject,  pursued  his  education  in  the 
Westtown  boarding  school,  which  is  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  in  Haverford  College,  entering  the  senior  class. 
He  left  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  for  many  years  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  business.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Salem,  although 
he  retained  the  ownership  of  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
He  purchased  a  lumber-yard  in  Salem,  and  conducted  the  business,  which 
is  now  being  carried  on  by  our  subject.  In  connection  with  the  sale  of 
lumber  he  operated  a  plaiiing-mill,  employing  as  many  as  fifteen  men,  and 
manufacturing  boxes  for  canning  factories  on  quite  an  extensive  scale. 
In  1877  he  put  aside  all  business  cares  and  retired  to  private  life.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican  and  served  as  a  freeholder.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  city  council  and  has  served  on  the  township  committee. 
He  adheres  to  the  religious  faith  of  his  forefathers,  being  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Charlotte 
Acton,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  N.  Acton,  of  Salem.  They  have 
three  children:  Clayton,  whose  name  introduces  this  review,  is  the  eldest. 
Richard,  born  February  6,  1848,  married  Cornelia  Bassett,  a  daughter  (if 
John  and  Susan  Bassett.  He  w^as  for  many  years  a  successful  farmer,  but 
is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Salem.  Elizabeth  Wyatt  is  the  wife  of  Richard 
Thompson,  a  farmer  of  Mornington  township,  and  they  have  five  children 
— Charlotte  W.,  David  .Allen,  Alary  Tyler,  Cornelia  B.  and  Caroline  Mc- 
Naushton. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  383 

Clayton  Wistar,  the  present  representative  in  the  business  world  of  a 
most  prominent  and  honored  family  of  New  Jersey,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead farm  in  Mornington  township,  September  12,  1845.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  Westtown  boarding  school,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  the  Friends'  boarding  school  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  upon  the  home  farm  for  several  years  after  com- 
pleting his  literary  education,  and  continued  to  carry  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1877.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Salem  and  entered  the  firm  of 
Woodnut,  Wistar  &  Company.  They  conducted  an  extensive  and  pros- 
perous lumber  business  under  that  style  until  1886,  when,  on  a  change  in 
the  partnership,  the  name  of  Wistar  &  Woodnut  was  assumed.  This  firm 
is  now  at  the  head  of  the  leading  lumber  business  of  Salem.  They  have 
extensive  and  well  equipped  yards,  and  carry  everything  found  in  a  first- 
class  concern  in  their  line.  Their  reasonable  prices,  honorable  and  just 
dealing  and  courteous  treatment  of  their  patrons  have  secured  to  them  an 
extensive  and  constantly  increasing  trade,  from  which  they  derive  an  ex- 
cellent income.  Mr.  Wistar  is  also  a  director  in  the  Franklin  Building  & 
Loan  Association,  and  in  business  circles  is  accorded  a  foremost  place  in 
recognition  of  his  marked  executi\e  ability,  his  genius  for  devising  and  ex- 
ecuting the  right  thing  at  the  right  time,  his  keen  discrimination  and  in- 
tegrity of  purpose. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  whose  close  study  of  the  is- 
sues of  the  day  enables  him  to  give  an  intelligent  support  to  his  party,  yet 
he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Friend, 
and  is  identified  with  the  orthodox  branch  of  the  society.  His  pleasant 
home  life  is  shared  by  his  wife  and  two  sons.  He  was  married  February  18, 
1869,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Thompson,  and 
their  children  are  Richard  Wyatt  and  Arthur.  The  life  of  Clayton  Wistar 
has  been  a  busy  and  useful  one.  Endowed  by  nature  with  strong  men- 
tality, educated  in  excellent  schools,  he  has  always  viewed  life  from  a  practi- 
cal and  broad  standpoint,  bringing  to  bear  upon  all  questions  a  well  bal- 
anced judgment.  His  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  have  won  him 
the  respect,  yea  the  friendship  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


FRANK    L.    CASSADAY. 

Frank  L.  Cassaday,  contractor  and  builder  of  Westville,  New  Jersey, 
was  born  in  Upper  Pittsgrove,  Salem  county,  February  4,  1865,  the  son 
of  Jdin  E.  Cassaday  and  Christine,  nee  Lacey.  His  grandfather.  Job 
Cassaday,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of 


584  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

Philadelijhia  and  later  a  resident  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  at  one  time  the 
owner  of  a  stage  line  and  in  later  life  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Mary 
Stevens,  and  their  children  were:  Mary,  the  wife  of  Robert  Brock; 
Mucagey   [Micajah?],  Rebecca,  Deborah  and  John  E. 

John  E.  Cassaday,  the  father  of  Frank  L.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in 
1845.  Coming  to  New  Jersey  when  very  yovmg,  he  became  engaged  in 
and  has  since  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  in  Salem  county.  The  four 
children  born  to  him  were:  Frank  L. ;  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
Camp;  John;  and  Phoebe,  the  wife  of  Lemuel  Stewart. 

His  maternal  great-grandfather,  Joshua  Lacey,  was  a  native  of  Salem 
couiity,  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer  and  basketmaker  and  lived  to 
an  advanced  old  age.  John  C.  Lacey,  the  son  of  Joshua,  w:as  also  born  in 
Salem  county,  and  there  spent  his  entire  life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
was  married  to  Phoebe  Schaffer,  who  still  survives  him.  Their  children 
were  Henry,  John  C,  Jr.,  Angeline  and  Emiline,  twins,  Sally,  Charles  and 
Joshua. 

Frank  L.  Cassaday  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Elmer.  New 
Jersey,  later  learned  the  building  trade  at  that  jilace,  and  began  business 
there  in  1887.  In  1889  he  established  a  plant  in  Westville,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1895.  Lnmediately  aftenvard  he  erected  his  present 
building  there.  Li  connection  with  building  Mr.  Cassaday  operates  an 
extensive  planing-mill.  He  has  erected  many  public  and  private  buildings 
at  Elmer,  Woodly  and  Westville. 

He  was  twice  married.  For  his  first  wife  he  married  Elizabeth  I'. 
Kandle,  who  died  childless  Feliruary  17,  1895.  In  May,  1897,  he  was 
married,  at  Sea  Isle  City,  to  Rebecca  B.  Dallas,  the  widow  of  William 
Young.     They  have  one  child,  named  Paul. 

Mr.  Cassaday  is  a  member  of  the  Shield  of  Honor,  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  an  attendant  of  the   Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


WILLIAM    CUNNINGHAM. 

William  Cunningham,  who  takes  high  rank  as  a  successful  and  pro- 
gressive market  gardener  of  Deptford  township,  Gloucester  county,  was 
bom  in  this  township,  January  19,  1867,  the  son  of  Hugh  Cunningham 
and  Margaret,  nee  Jamieson.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Woodbury,  trained  to  farm  life  on  his  father's  farm,  and  there  by  his  close 
attention  to  farming  as  a  science  laid  the  foundation  of  his  present  success 
as  a  market  gardener.     He  takes  strong  ground  in  his  political  \'iews  as 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  585 

a  Republican  and  is  a  factor  in  both  town  and  county  affairs.  In  1S96  he 
was  the  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  in  March,  1899,  was  elected  constable  of 
the  county  of  Gloucester. 

In  July,  1889,  he  was  married  to  ]\Iary,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
Dove,  of  Haddonfield.  Camden  county.  They  have  four  children, — Joseph, 
John,  Mary  and  Annie.  He  attends  with  his  family  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


WILLI A]\I    C.   ALLEN. 


William  C.  Allen,  one  of  the  young,  progressive  and  highly  esteemed 
farmers  of  Deptford  township,  was  born  in  Vincent-town,  Burlington 
county.  New  Jersey,  May  4,  1866,  the  son  of  John  Allen  and  Edith,  nee 
Dudley.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Center  township,  Cam- 
den county,  and  reared  to  farm  life.  Remaining  on  his  father's  farm  after 
leaving  school,  his  industry  and  close  attention  to  farming  soon  gave  him 
a  substantial  foothold  and  a  well-earned  rank  among  the  progressive  farm- 
ers of  his  section.  In  the  spring  of  1899  he  left  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
moved to  his  present  farm,  which  he  is  rapidly  bringing  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  The  farm  is  situated  in  a  belt  of  land  well  adapted  to  the 
raising  of  all  kinds  of  cereals,  and  of  this  feature  of  farming  Mr.  Allen  is 
making  a   specialty. 

Mr.  Allen  is  a  member  of  Woodbury  Lodge,  Senior  American 
Mechanics,  and  in  politics  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is 
immarried. 


E.    ERANK    PINE. 


E.  Frank  Pine,  a  prominent  dealer  in  lumber,  coal,  etc.,  in  Blackwood, 
New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Chew's  Landing,  Camden  county.  New  Jersey, 
December  14,  1865,  the  son  of  James  T.  Pine  and  Hannah  R.,  nee  Clifton. 
He  comes  of  a  family  long  established  in  Camden  county,  of  which  his 
grandfather,  Jonathan  T.  Pine,  was  a  native,  spending  his  entire  life  here, 
a  prosperous  and  progressive  farmer.  His  paternal  grandmother  was 
Dora  Tomlin.  Of  this  family  the  children  were:  Benjamin  D.;  James  T. ; 
the  father  of  E.  Frank  Pine;  George  W.,  a  minister  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church;  Jonathan  T.;  Miles  S. ;  and  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Edward 
Redfield. 

Mr.  Pine  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Blackwood.  Reared  en  his 
father's  farm,  he  followed  the  vocation  of  farmer  until  twentv-eiglit  vears 


S86  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

of  age,  remaining  during  this  period  at  the  old  homestead.  In  1893  he 
abandoned  farming  for  his  present  line  of  business. 

Mr.  Pine  in  politics  is  a  Republican  and  is  influentially  and  actively 
interested  in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  has  served  his  township  for 
three  years  as  constable;  in  1894  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and 
re-elected  to  the  office  in  1899;  and  in  1900  he  was  elected  tax  collector 
of  Gloucester  township,  Camden  county. 

He  is. a  member  of  Tonawanda  Tribe,  No.  104,  and  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men  of  Blackwood,  and  attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.     He  is  unmarried. 


GRANT    SPARKS,    M.  D. 

Among  the  young  professional  men  of  Gloucester  county.  New  Jersey, 
who  give  great  promise  of  a  brilliant  future,  none  occupy  a  higher  place 
in  the  consideration  and  esteem  of  the  general  public  than  the  gentleman 
whose  biography  it  is  our  pleasure  to  present.  Alert  and  ambitious  for 
a  successful  career,  he  applies  himself  with  ardor  to  the  profession  he  has 
chosen,  giving  to  it  his  undivided  attention  and  constant  study,  and  has 
thus  far  met  with  a  most  flattering  success.  He  is  a  native  of  the  town 
in  which  he  now  resides,  having  been  born  in  Mantua,  Gloucester  county. 
New  Jersey,  on  May  31,  1872,  his  parents  being  Thomas  Taylor  and 
Rebecca  Jane  (Powell)  Sparks,  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  the 
village.  When  a  lad  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  village 
and  later  entered  a  private  school  at  Woodbury,  kept  by  the  Quakers. 
Having  developed  a  greed  for  books  and  a  special  liking  for  the  study  of 
the  human  anatomy  and  its  ills,  he  decided  to  enter  the  medical  profession 
and  to  that  end  matriculated  at  Jefiferson  Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia, 
in  1891,  leaving  it  in  1893  and  entering  the  Medico-Chirurgical  College, 
of  the  same  city,  at  which  he  graduated  in  1895.  The  years  in  college 
were  years  of  industry,  and  he  brought  to  his  practice  a  well  stored  mind 
and  clear  perception  of  the  requirements  of  his  profession. 

After  his  graduation  he  returned  at  once  to  his  home  village  and  opened 
an  office,  in  which  he  has  since  been  located  and  where  he  exercised  such 
skill  and  care  in  the  first  cases  that  came  under  his  treatment  that  others 
recognized  his  ability  and  his  practice  rapidly  increased,  until  to-day  it  is 
of  desirable  extent.  Nor  is  it  confined  to  his  immediate  locality,  as  he 
receives  calls  from  points  throughout  the  surrounding  country  and  his 
friends  bespeak  for  him  future  splendid  achievements.     He  is  the  exam- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  587 

ining  physician  for  the  Shield  of  Honor  and  also  for  the  Presidential  Life 
Insurance  Company.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  keeps 
intelligently  posted  on  all  questions  of  political  import.  He  is  now  (1900) 
a  candidate  for  coroner  of  Gloucester  county,  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  is  an  attendant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  a  young  man 
whose  character  is  above  the  breath  of  reproach,  and  whose  friends  are 
legion. 


THOMAS    CUNNINGHAM. 

Thomas  Cunningham,  a  prominent  and  progressive  farmer  of  Deptford 
township,  Gloucester  county,  a  son  of  Hugh  Cunningham  and  Margaret 
Jamieson,  was  born  near  Chew's  Landing,  Camden  county,  this  state, 
June  14,  1868.  When  but  two  years  old  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Deptford  township,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Woodbury  and  since  boyhood  has  been 
continuously  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  farm  of  forty-five  acres 
now  conducted  by  him  is  among  the  finest  in  the  county.  He  was  married, 
in  Woodbury,  February  25,  1891,  to  Annie  M.,  a  daughter  of  George  Mills 
and  Hannah,  nee  Adams.  They  have  two  sons:  Louis  M.,  born  September 
17,  1892;   and  Frank  W.,  born  July  25,  1896. 

Mr.  Cunningham  is  a  member  of  Westville  Lodge,  No.  8,  Shield  of 
Honor.  In  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  respect  to  religion 
he  attends  Christ  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  Woodbury. 


C.   C.  SOUDER. 


C.  C.  Souder,  of  Richwood,  is  a  retired  farmer  and  local  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  born  at  the  ancestral  home  of 
the  family,  in  Lake,  Franklin  township,  Gloucester  county,  June  18,  1827. 
Of  German  lineage,  the  family  was  one  of  the  first  established  in  this 
locality,  and  since  that  time  its  representatives  have  been  connected  with 
the  afTairs  which  go  to  shape  the  history  of  the  county.  The  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Charles  Souder,  and  the  grandfather,  who  also 
bore  the  name  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Lake,  where  also  occurred  the 
birth  of  Lawrence  Souder,  the  father  of  him  whose  name  heads  this  re- 
view. He  devoted  his  entire  life  to  farming  and  at  his  death  the  com- 
munity lost  one  of  its  most  respected  and  worthy  citizens.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Chew,  was  also  a  native  of  the  localitv  in 


588  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

whicli  her  liiisband  was  born,  and  by  their  marriage  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living:  C.  C,  of  this  review; 
Richard  C.  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia;  Thomas,  a  resident  of  Millville; 
Jane  Abbot;    and  Brazilla,  of  Glassboro. 

Tn'the  common  schools  C.  C.  Souder  acquired  his  literary  education, 
and  on  putting  aside  his  text-books  went  into  the  root  business,  shipping 
his  goods  to  the  West  Indies  for  twenty  vears.  In  1884  lie  purchased  a 
farm  in  Harrison  township  and  retired  from  commercial  pursuits.  In 
addition  to  the  management  of  his  property  he  directs  his  energies  to  the 
advancement  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  a  local 
preacher  for  fifty-five  years.  He  is  the  only  one  living  of  thirty-seven  who 
joined  the  West  Jersey  Local  Preachers'  Association,  and  was  president 
of  that  association  for  twenty  years,  his  efforts  largely  advancing  its  inter- 
ests and  work.  He  has  held  all  the  offices  in  the  church  and  has  been 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  His  life,  consecrated  to  noble  living, 
has  exerted  a  strong  influence  for  good  throughout  the  community  in 
which  he  makes  his  home,  and  when  his  earthly  pilgrimage  shall  have  ended 
his  memory  will  remain  as  an  luialloj-ed  benediction  to  all  who  knew  him. 

In  185 1  j\Ir.  Souder  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to 
Miss  Sarah  Skinner,  of  Gloucester  county,  and  to  them  were  born  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  living:  Frank  M..  a  resident  of  Millville; 
^lartha,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Black,  of  Swedesboro;  Richard  D.,  at  home; 
and  Dr.  Charles  F.,  a  physician  of  Philadelphia. 


CHARLES   PEARSON. 


Charles  Pearson,  of  Blackwood,  Gloucester  township,  Camden  county, 
was  born  near  Cleveland.  Ohio.  P'ebruary  i,  1833.  the  son  of  Sampson 
Pearson  and  Judith,  nee  Engermost.  For  three  generations  from  his  great- 
grandfather in  Lincolnshire,  England,  the  given  name  of  Sampson  con- 
tinued in  the  family.  His  grandfather,  Sampson  Pearson  (2d)  emigrated 
from  Lincolnshire.  England,  at  an  early  date  to  America,  located  in  Ohio, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming.  He  later  removed  to  Philadelphia,  subse- 
quently to  New  Jersey,  settling  in  Creasville,  at  that  time  included  in  Cam- 
den county,  where  he  died  about  tlie  year  1847.  His  father.  Samuel  Pear- 
son (3d),  the  only  child  of  his  parents,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
came  to  America  with  his  father,  locating  with  him  first  in  Ohio,  then  in 
Philadelphia  and  afterward  in  Creasville.  Here  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits;    was  also  a  dealer  in  horses  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business. 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  589 

For  several  years  he  was  tlie  proprietor  of  the  well  known  hostelry  called 
the  "Green  Tree."  By  his  marriage  just  previous  to  his  removal  to  New 
Jersey  he  had  nine  children:  Mary  Ann;  Isaac;  Emma;  Charles;  Harriet, 
who  married  Mr.  John  Evans  and  is  now  <leceased;  Jeremiah;  Eliza,  now 
the  wife  of  Isaac  Peacock;  Evan  D. ;  and  Rhode,  the  wife  of  Matlock 
Turner. 

Charles  Pearson  was  but  a  year  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  New 
Jersey  and  has  ever  since  continued  a  resident  of  the  state.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and,  seeking  an  independent  vocation, 
learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  at  Hurf^ville.  Having  mastered  his  trade, 
in  1856,  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  in  Fain'iew,  Gloucester  county. 
He  later  sold  out  his  business  and  purchased  a  stage  line,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  several  years.  He  afterward  built  a  hotel  and  continued  as  its 
proprietor  for  two  years.  In  1862  he  removed  to  Mantua,  New  Jersey, 
and  resumed  his  former  trade.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Blackwood  since 
1870. 

In  1843  Mr.  Pearson  was  married,  in  Blackwood,  to  Rosanna,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Park  and  Ann  Turner.  Mrs.  Pearson  died  in  1879,  smce 
which  ]\Ir.  Pearson  has  remained  unmarried.  They  had  five  children : 
Kate,  now  Airs.  Smith;  Mary,  deceased,  who  married  -William  Redfield: 
Ida,  the  wife  of  William  Pearson;  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Edgar  Nevinger;  and 
Maud,  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Wenonah. 

Mr.  Pearson  is  a  Republican  and  an  attendant  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 


ROBERT    E.    McFARLAND. 

Robert  Eugene  McFarland,  a  farmer  of  Deptford  township,  Gloucester 
county,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  25,  1856, 
the  son  of  Benjamin  McFarland  and  Hannah,  nee  McCombs,  both  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  His  grandfather  Robert  McFarland,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native 
state.  By  marriage  to  Zepora  [or  Zipporah]  Hudson  he  had  children  : 
Richard,  James,  Benjamin,  and  a  fourth  child  whose  name  is  not  recorded. 
Benjamin,  the  only  surviving  member  of  this  family,  and  father  of  Robert 
Eugene  McFarland,  was  born  in  Bohemia  Manor  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Maryland,  in  1830. 

Educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Elkton,  Maryland,  he  spent  his  early 
life  in  his  native  state,  subsequently  removing  to  Lancaster  county.  Pa.. 
and  engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Bethesda  in  that  county,  and  for 


590  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

a  considerable  period  taught  school.  From  Pennsylvania  he  removed  to 
the  west,  residing  for  short  periods  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Ohio.  He  sub- 
sequently returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  still  resides  and  where  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  post-office  department  for  a  number  of  years.  Of 
his  two  children, — Robert  E.  and  James  E., — the  latter  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years.  Mrs.  McFarland.  the  mother  of  our  subject,  died  in 
1863. 

Robert  Eugene  jMcFarland  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Mary- 
land and  Philadelphia.  Completing  a  good  primary  education,  he  removed 
to  the  west  and  for  two  years  resided  in  Kansas.  Returning  then  to  Phil- 
adelphia, he  was  engaged  there  in  a  shoe  factory  until  1896,  when  he 
removed  to  New  Jersey,  locating  in  Westville,  and  in  March,  1898,  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 

In  August,  1885,  Mr.  McFarland  was  married  to  Annie,  a  daughter  of 
Martin  Brown  and  Sarah  Murphy.  They  have  three  children:  Harr\^  H., 
born  in   1886:    Hannah,   in   1889;    and  Sarah,  in   1896. 

Mr.  McFarland's  political  views  are  Republican.  The  family  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


ABEL    B.    CLEMENT. 


Abel  B.  Clement,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Deptford  township,  Glouces- 
ter county,  New  Jersey,  was  liorn  upon  the  homestead  where  he  now 
resides,  December  17.  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  Aaron  Clement  and  Jane 
P.,  nee  Bacon.  The  paternal  homestead  is  a  part  of  an  original  tract  of 
seven  hundred  acres,  subsequently  divided  into  farms.  The  Clement  family 
were  original  settlers  of  this  tract,  and  the  homestead  which  has  been  in 
possession  of  the  family  since  1682  has  been  handed  down  from  father 
to  son  to  this  date.  The  ancestors  of  the  family  came  originally  n-om 
England  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island.  His  great-grandfather,  Abel  Qem- 
ent,  was  bom  and  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  homestead,  and  in  his  day 
was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature.  He  was  twice  married  and  among 
his  children  were  Abel,  Benjamin,  James  and  Joseph.  His  grandfather, 
Abel  Clement,  was  born  and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  homestead  as  a 
farmer  and  conducted  also  the  Gloucester  fishery.  Later  in  life  he  retired 
and  resided  in  Haddonfield,  Camden  county,  where  he  died  March  17, 
1861.  By  marriage  to  Kezia  Mickle  he  had  as  children:  Mickle;  Rebecca, 
who  married  Joseph  Brick;  Mary,  who  married  Samuel  .Albertson;  Ellis, 
who   was   twice   married;     Elizabeth,   who    married    David    Burr;    Aaron; 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  591 

Sarah,  who  married  Aaron  Burr:  and  Anna,  who  died  in  childhood:  all 
are  now  deceased.  His  father,  Aaron  Clement,  was  born  at  Mount  Eph- 
raim,  Camden  count}',  June  24,  1816,  was  educated  at  common  school,  was 
engaged  in  farming  his  entire  life  in  Gloucester  county,  and  died  January 
22,  1894,  leaving  as  issue  Maria  M.;  William  B.,  who  resides  in  West 
Philadelphia;  and  Abel  B.  The  remains  of  himself  and  his  wife,  who  died 
July  6,  1899,  are  interred  in  the  Baptist  burying-ground  at  Roadstown, 
Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey. 

Abel  B.  Clement  was  educated  at  district  and  select  schools  and  has 
since  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  farming  life.  In  1875  he  removed 
to  his  present  farm,  then  owned  by  his  father  and  which  he  has  since  in- 
herited. This  farm  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty-tive  acres  of  arable  land 
admirably  adapted  to  market  gardening,  a  feature  of  farming  which  I\Ir. 
Clement  has  brought  to  a  high  degree  of  perfection. 

In  February,  1875,  Mr.  Clement  was  married,  at  the  residence  of  his  wife's 
father  in  Deptford  township,  to  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Rebecca 
Ann  Brewer.  They  have  had  twelve  children:  Gertrude  M.;  Herbert  I.;  A. 
CHnton;  Jennie  B.;  .Samuel  Water;  Robert  B.,  who  died  in  childhood;  Mary 
Frances;  Emma  M.;  Florence;  Helen,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth  ^lont- 
gomery  and  William  B. 

Mr.  Clement  in  his  political  views  is  independent.  He  attends  the  Epis- 
copalian church,  of  which  several  of  his  family  are  members. 


JERE  H.  NIXON. 


yjere  H.  Nixon,  the  cashier  of  the  ^Mechanics'  National  Bank  of  Millville, 
was  born  near  Cedarville,  Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  May  28,  1864. 
The  family  has  long  been  one  of  prominence  and  wealth  in  New  Jersey.  The 
first  representative  of  the  name  in  this  state  purchased  large  tracts  of  land, 
incltiding  the  greater  portion  of  Cumberland,  Salem  and  Cape  May  coun- 
ties. They  were  of  English  lineage  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
southern  New  Jersey.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Cedarville,  where  three  generations  of  the  family  had  previously  lived.  That 
was  also  the  birthplace  of  George  W.  Nixon,  the  grandfather,  and  probably  in 
the  same  house  William  B.  Nixon,  the  father,  was  born.  George  W.  Nixon 
married  Miss  Martha  Harris,  a  relative  of  the  president  of  the  Bridgeton 
National  Bank.  By  their  marriage  they  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
five  of  whom  are  still  living.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nixon  held  membership 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  the  former  was  one  of  its  active  workers,  thus 


592  BIOGRAPHICAL  I II STORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  ancestors.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
Cedarvitle,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  His  wife  also  attained 
_,.^ike  age  of  four-score  years. 

William  B.  Nixon,  the  father  of  him  whose  name  introduces  this  record, 
resided  upon  the  home  farm  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  after  which 
he  went  to  sea.  At  the  time  he  attained  his  majority  he  was  in  charge  of  a 
vessel  and  was  employed  in  the  oyster  trade  in  Delaware  Bay.  .\  very 
brave  and  courageous  nature  was  shown  by  his  rescuing  several  vessels  and 
a  number  of  sailors  who  otherwise  would  have  lost  their  lives  at  sea.  Mr. 
Nixon  is  now  the  owner  of  a  number  of  vessels  and  is  extensively  interested 
in  shipping  along  the  shores  of  the  Delaware.  He  married  Miss  Ella  Louise 
Bateman,  a  native  of  Cedarville  and  a  daughter  of  James  Bateman.  a  con- 
tractor, builder,  undertaker  and  furniture  dealer  in  that  place.  Her  father, 
a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  universally  respected  in  his  locality,  died  at 
the  age  of  forty  }'ears.  I-Iis  wife,  wdio  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca 
Powell,  belonged  to  a  prominent  family  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Cedar- 
ville. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nixon  hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  the  former  served  as  secretary.  He  is  also  in  charge  of 
several  estates  connected  with  the  church.  At  the  age  of  sixty-one  years 
he  is  still  actively  connected  with  the  oyster  trade,  being  in  charge  of  a  boat 
used  in  the  shipping  interests  of  this  section  of  the  country.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nixon  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  namely : 
James  B.;  Alice  R.,  wife  of  E.  L.  Bateman;  Jere  H.  and  Luella. 

The  common  schools  afforded  Jere  H.  Nixon  his  educational  privileges 
and  early  in  life  he  familiarized  himself  with  every  detail  of  the  oyster-ship- 
ping business.  Most  of  his  vacations  were  spent  on  his  father's  vessels  and 
he  soon  acquired  a  practical  education  of  nautical  life.  AVhen  not  with  the 
shippers  he  was  engaged  in  clerking-  in  a  country  store.  His  youth  was 
therefore  one  of  unusual  activity,  but  he  thereby  gained  experience  with 
business  methods  that  well  fitted  him  for  more  responsible  duties  in  later  life. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  Merchants'  Bank  of  At- 
lantic City  and  applied  himself  diligently  to  the  mastery  of  the  intricacies  of 
the  banking  business.  Two  and  a  half  years  later  he  resigned  his  position 
there  and  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Egg  Harbor  Bank. 

While  residing  in  Atlantic  City  he  had  improved  his  leisure  time  by  pur- 
suing a  special  course  in  bookkeeping,  and  by  close  and  earnest  study  had 
acquired  a  very  thorough  knowledge  of  the  various  banking  methods  then 
in  vogue.  His  advancement  was  continuous  and  rapid,  his  ability  winning 
him  promotion  from  time  to  time.  He  served  successively  as  bookkeeper, 
general   bookkeeper,  assistant  paying  teller  and  teller  in  the   Merchants" 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  593 

Bank,  resigning  the  last  named  in  order  to  become  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Egg  Harbor  Bank.  His  connection  with  the  last  named  institution 
covers  a  considerable  period,  and  he  then  severed  his  connection  with  that 
to  enter  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Atlantic  City,  in  which  he  remained 
until  1 89 1,  when  he  went  to  Haddonfield  and  accepted  the  position  of  cash- 
ier in  the  Haddonfield  National  Bank.  At  that  time  the  institution  was  in 
rather  a  precarious  condition,  but  his  business  methods  and  energy  in- 
fused new  vitality  into  the  organization  and  within  six  months  after  the 
date  of  his  arrival  the  foundations  for  a  new  bank  building  were  being  laid. 
As  a  result  of  his  energetic  efTorts  Haddonfield  now  possesses  the  finest 
bank  structure  for  a  town  of  its  size  in  the  state.  The  heavy  three-ton  door 
which  closes  the  vault  would  prove  very  formidable  to  the  assaults  of  can.- 
non  or  battering-ram,  while  the  solid  steel  of  its  panels  is  fastened  in  the 
ponderous  wall  by  one  of  the  newest  and  most  cunningly  devised  complex 
locks  invented  in  recent  years.  A  second  steel  door,  fitted  with  combination 
locks,  renders  this  vault  entirely  burglar-proof,  while  the  whole  building 
is  impervious  to  fire.  These  improved  conditions,  together  with  Mr.  Nix- 
on's ready  business  tact  and  courteous  manner,  had  the  effect  of  establish- 
ing the  institution  on  a  firm  financial  basis.  An  absolutely  honest  stand- 
ard of  dealing  with  the  patrons  of  the  bank,  and  at  the  same  time  a  saga- 
cious and  careful  adjustment  of  monetary  obligations,  secured  the  confi- 
dence of  the  public,  brought  a  large  increase  of  deposits  and  put  the  bank 
stock  at  a  premium. 

]\Ir.  Nixon  severed  his  connection  with  the  Haddonfield  Bank  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  organizers  of  the  IMechanics'  National  Bank  of  Mill- 
viile.  The  organization  was  effected  on  the  ist  of  April,  1899.  and  the 
bank  was  opened  for  business  on  the  ist  of  August.  The  volume  of  busi- 
ness done  during  the  first  six  months  of  its  existence  exceeded  that  which 
the  stockholders  thought  would  be  transacted  in  a  year.  Mr.  Nixon  is 
not  only  one  of  the  leading  organizers,  but  was  also  a  member  of  the  build- 
ing committee  and  is  the  popular  cashier  of  the  institution,  and  its  success 
is  largely  due  to  his  efforts.  The  stock  of  the  bank  now  sells  at  a  dollar 
and  ten  cents.  Its  vault  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state  and  its  equipments 
would  prove  creditable  to  any  state  bank.  Air.  Nixon  has  been  a  leading 
spirit  in  conducting  the  enterprise,  and  his  broad  knowledge  of  banking 
methods,  combined  with  his  marked  executive  ability,  has  brought  to  the 
institution  very  gratifying  success. 

In  1887  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Jere  H.  Nixon  and  Miss  Aurelia 
Parsels,  one  of  the  eight  children  of  Charles  Parsels,  a  prominent  grocer 
of  Atlantic  City.    They  have  two  children, — Mervella  P.  and  Alice  B.     Mr. 


594 


BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 


and  Mrs.  Nixon  are  meml)er.s  of  the  Methodist  chin^cli.  Me  is  a  Re])ublican 
in  politics,  and  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  belonging-  to  lladdon- 
field  Lodge.  Xo.  130,  of  Hadilonfield,  and  to  Millville  Lodge.  B.  P.  O.  Elks, 
No.  580.  of  which  he  is  the  exalted  ruler.  Li  the  various  official  positions 
he  holds  he  has  fulfilled  his  obligations  honorably  and  well,  and  is  a  living 
illustration  of  the  fact  that  it  is  possible  to  be  a  highly  successful  Inismess 
man  and  at  the  same  time  a  Christian  gentleman. 


HARRY  B.  PAUL. 


Harr\-  B.  Paul,  ex-postmaster  of  Camden.  New  Jersey,  who  has  been 
successful  in  business,  in  politics,  and  in  the  establishment  of  a  strong  news- 
paper, and  who  is.  withal,  the  center  of  a  large  circle  of  friends,  was  born 
June  II.  1855.  in  the  part  of  Philadelphia  then  known  as  the  district  of 
Southwark.  His  parents,  David  S.  and  Rebecca  (Hillman)  Paul,  natives 
of  the  old  south  Jersey  county  of  Gloucester,  were  descendants  of  fighting- 
Quakers,  who  took  part  in  the  war  of  independence.  After  residing  for 
a  number  of  years  in  Philadelphia,  where  the  father  served  the  district  of 
Southwark  several  times  as  commissioner,  they  came  to  Camden,  in  i86g. 

Harry  B.  Paul  received  the  greater  part  of  his  early  education  in  the 
Beck  School  on  Catherine  street,  above  Sixth  street,  in  his  native  city. 
He  left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  to  take  a  position  in  the  office  of 
General  Louis  Wagner,  now  the  president  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
City  Trusts  of  Philadelphia.  Subsequently  in  Camden  he  became  an  ap- 
prentice of  Charles  S.  CalYrey.  the  celebrated  builder  of  light  carriages. 
The  young-  man  quickly  mastered  all  the  intricacies  of  the  business;  and  in 
1879,  when  the  style  of  the  firm  was  changed  to  that  of  the  Charles  S. 
Caffrey  Company,  he  was  made  the  secretar}-  of  the  corporation.  The  re- 
sponsible duties  of  this  position  he  performed  efificiently  until  1892,  when 
he  entered  on  a  different  field  of  labor,  being  appointed  by  Governor  Leon 
Abbett  police  justice. 

A  local  sheet  gives  the  following  authentic  sketch  of  his  political  career: 
"Mr.  Paul  has  alwa3-s  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  made  him- 
self an  essential  member  of  the  party  of  his  choice.  His  elithusiasm  is  of 
that  kind  that  communicates  itself  to  others,  and  which  is  always  prepared 
for  every  emergency.  W'licn  anything  was  to  be  done  that  was  proper  and 
honorable,  no  matter  what  it  was,  how  difiticult.  or  how  forlorn  the  hope 
of  success,  Mr.  Paul  could  alwavs  be  depended  upon.  In  counsel  he  was 
clear-headed,  wise,  and  accustomed  from  his  long  business  training  to  be 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEIV  JERSEY.  595 

eminently  practical.  Living  in  a  countv  that  gives  a  majority  to  the  o]3- 
posing  party  all  the  way  from  two  to  four  thousand,  in  a  brilliantly  con- 
ducted canvass  for  the  shrievalty  he  reduced  the  opposition  to  a  plurality 
of  two  hundred  and  eighty.  All  this  was  remembered  by  his  grateful  polit- 
ical confreres;  and  in  1892,  when  a  police  justice  was  wanted,  he  was  ap- 
pointed. As  the  representative  of  the  first  congressional  district  on  the 
state  committee,  Mr.  Paul  was  convinced  that,  to  secure  a  fair  showing  for 
the  efforts  and  labor  expended  in  the  presidential  campaign  of  1892,  it  was 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  party  to  have  an  organ  in  Camden.  With  a 
faith  that  evinced  itself  in  its  results,  he  established  the  Re\'iew  and  en- 
listed the  services  of  a  competent  staff.  The  ])aper  now  has  a  large  circula- 
tion, and  is  moving  onward  toward  more  commanding  influence  and  the 
goal  of  pecuniary  profit  for  its  projectors." 

On  July  1,  1894,  when  Mr.  Paul,  under  appointment  of  President  Cleve- 
land, entered  upon  the  duties  of  postmaster  of  Camden,  which  otftce  came 
to  him  unsought,  he  was  greeted  with  the  general  approval  of  the  business 
men  of  the  city;  and  he  has  since  justified  their  good  opinion.  When  he 
took  charge,  the  ot^ce  opened  at  7  A.  M.  and  closed  at  8  P.  M.  It  now 
opens  at  6:30  A.  M.  and  closes  at  9  P.  'M.\  and,  the  corridor  being  open 
all  night,  box-holders  can  get  their  mail  at  any  time.  Mr.  Paul  also  ex- 
tended the  time  of  collection,  introducing,  after  the  last  general  collec- 
tion at  4:30,  an  additional  one  at  6  P.  M.  extending  to  Kaighn  s  avenue, 
the  six  o'clock  collection  having  previously  included  a  part  of  the  city  only, 
on  Federal  and  Market  streets  from  Seventh  street  to  the  ri\-er.  He  has 
also  introduced  another  collection, — on  Kaighn's  avenue,  Broadway,  Fed- 
eral and  Market  streets  from  Fifth  street  to  the  river,  the  letters  for  Phil- 
adelphia embraced  in  this  collection  being  delivered  in  that  city  in  the  last 
street  delivery  the  same  day;  another,  later,  on  Kaighn's  avenue  from 
Broadway  to  the  river,  Broadway,  north  of  Kaighn's  avenue,  and  on  ]\far- 
ket  and  Federal  streets  from  Tenth  street  to  the  river;  and  another  and 
last  collection  at  11  P.  M..  the  letters  in  which  leave  the  po?t-otfice  at  2 
A.  M.  and  are  delivered  in  all  cities  within  one  hundred  miles  in  the  early- 
morning  delivery,  and,  in  cities  beyond  that  limit  and  within  three  hundred 
miles,  before  noon.  Mr.  Paul  has  also  introduced  a  Sunday  collection  at 
5  P.  M.,  a  welcome  innovation  over  previous  usage,  considering  the  large 
number  of  letters  written  on  Sunday,  which  thus  reached  their  respective 
destinations  earlier  than  before.  To  the  business  portion  of  the  community 
he  has  given  a  noon  delivery,  embracing  Kaighn's  avenue  from  Broadway 
to  the  river,  and  also  Federal  and  Market  streets. 

Mr.  Paul  has  brought  the  service  of  his  office  up  to  a  high  degree  of 


596  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

efficiency.  He  has  retained  the  most  capable  employees,  regardless  of  their 
political  opinions,  making  the  accommodation  of  the  public  his  first  con- 
sideration. Each  department  is  filled  with  men  of  long  experience,  whose 
services  under  his  direction  have  produced  such  happy  results  that  a  well 
founded  complaint  in  connection  with  any  branch  of  the  service  is  never 
heard.  The  practical  wisdom  of  his  administration  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  the  receipts  of  the  office  during  the  past  two  years,  ending  March  13, 
1897,  exceeded  by  several  thousand  dollars  the  receipts  of  any  previous 
two  years  in  its  history. 

On  December  19,  1889,  Mr.  Paul  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Bertha  Riegel,  of  Philadelphia.  One  daughter.  Marguerite,  has  blessed 
the  union.  Mr.  Paul  is  a  member  of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Camden,  the 
Philadelphia  Consistory  (thirty-second  degree),  and  Lulu  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.    He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 


HON.  ROBERT  MORE. 


Hon.  Robert  More,  the  first  member  of  the  Republican  party  sent  from 
Cumberland  county.  New  Jersey,  to  the  state  legislature,  was  born  May 
17.  i8ig.  on  a  farm  in  Hopewell,  this  state,  a  son  of  Azariah  and  Lydia 
(Dare)  More.  He  comes  of  an  ancient  family,  the  name  More,  it  is  said, 
having  originated  as  a  surname  among  the  Scottish  Highland  clans  eight 
centuries  ago,  and  having  lived  through  the  days  of  the  Covenanters.  In 
the  time  of  James  II  representatives  of  the  family  were  found  in  the  north 
of  Ireland. 

]\Ir.  More's  great-grandfather,  Jacob  More,  who  was  a  New  Jersey  man, 
was  born  August  17,  1710.  His  wife,  Abigail  Peck,  an  English  lady  of  rare 
beauty  of  character  and  highly  educated,  was  born  February  7,  171 1.  She 
exercised  a  wonderful  influence  over  her  children,  whom  she  trained  by 
example  as  well  as  by  precept.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  having  no 
way  of  conveyance,  she  walked  from  above  Shiloh  to  Greenwich  to  all 
church  services,  both  week  days  and  Sabbaths.  She  died  July  23,  1794. 
The  children  of  Jacob  and  Abigail  (Peck)  More  were:  John,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  bom  March  3,  1738;  A.  Azariah,  born  July  23,  1739; 
Joseph.  April  12,  1742;  Ruth,  July  i,  1744;  Mary,  March  2,  1746;  Martha, 
December  13,  1747;    and  Bashaba,  March  i,  1750. 

John  More,  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob  More,  was  a  native  of  Hopewell, 
New  Jersey,  and  by  occupation  a  farmer  and  weaver.  In  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  and  Azariah  had  some  trying  experiences.     The  officer  of  the  day 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  597 

having-  called  for  three  volunteers  to  go  as  spies  among  the  enemy,  en- 
camped on  the  Delaware,  the  Mores,  with  a  Mr.  Mulford  and  a  Mr.  Fisher, 
undertook  the  hazardous  venture  and  captured  the  guns  and  other  arms  of 
a  small  band  of  men  who  came  out  to  cut  wood.  The  men  escaped  through 
the  proximity  of  the  army  to  which  they  were  attached;  but  Mr.  More  re- 
tained the  captured  arms,  and  one  gun  was  in  the  possession  of  the  family 
up  to  i860.  While  on  this  expedition  the  three  spies  were  so  pressed  for 
food  that  Mulford  killed  and  skinned  a  black  snake,  which  he  concealed 
and  ate  little  by  little,  fearing  that  his  companions  would  take  it  from  him ! 
More  and  Mulford  got  to  their  boat,  and  reached  camp  safely;  but  Fisher 
did  not  return  to  New  Jersey.  After  his  term  of  military  service  was  com- 
plete, Mr.  More  returned  to  his  farm  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  days  in  the 
peaceful  pursuit  of  agriculture.  He  married  Rachel  Moore,  of  another 
family,  born  August  25,  1745,  and  they  reared  a  large  number  of  children, 
namely:  Eunice,  born  February  24,  1766;  Azariah,  February  13,  1768; 
Abigail,  March  28,  1770:  Lois,  June  8,  1772;  Ruth.  November  22.  1773; 
Hannah,  April  14,  1776;  Lewis,  February  13,  1779:  John,  February  8, 
1781;  Sarah,  May  23,  1783;  and  Jacob  and  Rachel,  twins,  in  June,  1784. 
(For  other  interesting  facts  concerning  the  family  see  Shroud's  "History 
of  the  Fenwick  Colony;  Bridgeton,  1876.")  Azariah  More  also  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Azariah  More,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Upper  Hopewell,  New  Jersey,  and  spent  his  life  near  the  place  of 
his  birth.  A  successful  farmer  and  weaver,  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
the  town,  widely  known  and  respected.  He  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  was  a  member  of  the  building  committee  of  the 
church  in  Deerfield,  New  Jersey.  He  died  on  October  i,  1845,  i"  the  house 
Avhich  he  had  built  and  where  his  children  were  bom.  December  i,  1794, 
Azariah  More  was  married  to  Lydia  More,  who  died  April  4,  1830.  She 
was  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  this  part  of  the  country.  ^Irs. 
Lydia  D.  More  became  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  ai 
tained  maturity,  growing  up  in  Hopewell  township  and  learning  to  take 
a  part  in  the  weaving  industry  and  the  work  of  the  farm.  They  were : 
Daniel,  David,  three  who  died  at  birth,  Abigail,  Enoch,  Josiah,  Henrietta. 
Elizabeth,  George  Washington  and  Robert.  But  two  are  living  to-day : 
Joseph,  a  resident  of  Red  Willow  county,  Nebraska;  and  Robert,  of  Bridge- 
ton,  New  Jersey. 

Enoch  More  followed  the  sea  for  over  fortv  years  as  the  master  of  a 
vessel,  and  had  charge  of  some  of  the  largest  boats  afloat  in  his  day.  He 
was  the  captain  of  the  steamer  "Clyde,"  which  transported  Jefferson  Davis 


598  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

and  other  captured  Confederates  to  Fortress  Monroe.  Enoch  More  was 
also  assistant  surveyor  with  John  C.  Fremont,  accompanying  him  on  his 
expeditions  through  the  great  west.  David  More,  another  brother,  was  a 
sea  captain  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  on  board  his  ship  at  New 
Orleans,  and  his  body  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  his  Masonic  brethren, 
who  buried  it  in  a  leaden  casket,  that  it  might  be  moved  if  desired.  Hen- 
rietta More,  one  of  the  sisters,  lost  her  life  on  the  ill-fated  steamer  "Henry 
Clay."  which  was  burned  on  the  North  river. 

Rol)ert  More  was  engaged  in  his  youth  in  farming  and  weaving  on  the 
family  homestead.  After  his  father's  death  he  took  charge  of  the  farm; 
and  in  1875  he  purchased  the  Davis  mill  property,  making  his  home  there 
and  operating  the  mill  and  also  managing  a  store.  In  1883  he  removed  to 
Bridgeton  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glass  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  More,  Jonas  &  More,  pooling  his  capital  in  that  industry  and  em- 
ploying a  large  number  of  men.  He  still  owns  three  farms  in  Hopewell, 
and  as  a  business  man  and  real-estate  owner  occupies  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  community. 

]\Ir.  More  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  nee  Emily  Bivin,  of 
Shiloh,  left  one  child,  Caroline,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  William  E.  Riley, 
a  clothing  merchant  of  Bridgeton.  His  second  wife,  who  before  mar- 
riage was  Miss  Elizabeth  Cake,  of  Deerfield,  died  July  30,  1892,  leaving 
five  children:  Robert.  Jr..  a  member  of  the  firm  of  More.  Jonas  &  More: 
Richard,  a  member  of  the  same  firm;  Azariah.  who  is  in  the  glass  busi- 
ness in  Fairton;  John  T.,  who  is  connected  with  his  brother-in-law  in  busi- 
ness in  Bridgeton;  and  Elizabeth  C.  who  is  at  home  with  her  father. 
Robert  IMore.  Jr..  and  his  brother  Richard  have  increased  their  business 
so  that  they  now  have  one  of  the  largest  glass  plants  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey.  The_\-  ha\-e  run  the  works  to  their  full  capacity  ten  months  in  tb.e 
year  ever  since  they  began  business. 

While  residing  on  his  father's  farm  in  Hopewell,  Mr.  More  held  dif- 
ferent local  offices,  ably  ser\'ing  as  collector  and  clerk  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  almshouse,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  Chosen  Free- 
holders.— in  fact  filling  all  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  town  except  that 
of  assessor.  He  helped  to  organize  the  Republican  party  in  1855,  and  in 
1856  was  nominated  for  the  assembly.  Elected  in  1857-58  by  a  big  ma- 
jority, on  the  Republican  ticket,  representative  to  the  legislature,  he  had 
the  honor  to  be  the  first  man  sent  to  that  body  by  his  party  in  this  county. 
He  was  again  in  the  legislature  in  1866-68,  and,  being  nominated  for  state 
senator  in  i860,  at  the  time  of  the  John  Brown  excitement,  was  beaten  by 
only  seventeen  votes.     In   1H67  he  introduced  in  the  legislature  a  resolu- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  599 

tion  authorizing  the  placing  of  a  portrait  of  Lincohi  in  the  assembly  cham- 
ber beside  that  of  Washington,  and  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  house 
committee  to  procure  the  same;  and  on  the  fifty-eighth  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  Lincoln  he  delivered  an  eloquent  speech  in  honor  of  the  occa- 
sion. In  1867  Mr.  More  was  made  the  chairman  of  the  house  committee 
to  draft  rules  for  the  government  of  that  body.  On  February  9,  1865,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  debate  in  the  house  concerning  the  fifteenth  amend- 
ment to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  supported  the  amend- 
ment by  a  powerful  speech,  which  was  largely  published  and  quoted  from. 
He  was  instrumental,  too,  in  obtaining  the  passage  of  "an  act  to  prohibit 
the  sale  of  liquor  on  election  day."  Air.  More  is  still  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Deerfield,  on  whose  building  committee  his  father 
served,  and  was  fourteen  years  an  ofificer  of  the  church  and  many  years 
superintendent  of  the  West  Branch  Sunday-school.  His  family  likewise 
are  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


VOLNEY  G.  BENNETT. 

Volney  G.  Bennett,  wholesale  and  retail  dealer,  and  one  of  the  promi- 
nent financiers  of  Camden,  was  born  on  April  9,  1837,  in  Pike  county, 
Pennsylvania,  a  son  of  Jared  and  Esther  (Killam)  Bennett.  His  grand- 
father, Stephen  Bennett,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Pike  county,  and  was  engaged  for  years  in  farming  and  lumbering, 
at  that  time  the  leading  industries  of  this  part  of  Pennsylvania.  Stephen's 
wife.  Mary  (Gates)  Bennett,  lived  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  Wyoming  at 
the  time  of  the  famous  massacre  by  the  Tories  and  Indians  under  Colonel 
John  Butler,  and  was  instrumental  in  saving  many  lives  by  apprising  the 
defenceless  ones  of  the  slaughter  of  the  garrison  in  time  for  them  to  make 
their  escape  to  the  woods. 

Jared  Bennett  was  born  on  the  farm  in  Pike  county,  which  was  also 
the  birthplace  of  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  there  spent  his 
entire  life,  engaged  principally  in  lumbering.  He  was  very  successful  in 
financial  matters,  and  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  citizens  in  that  sec- 
tion. His  wife,  who  also  was  a  native  of  Pike  county,  is  now  deceased. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Their  children 
were:  Gipson  G.,  who  died  in  1899.  about  four-score  years  of  age,  a  re- 
tired blacksmith,  owning  a  farm  at  Mendon,  Michigan,  where  he  was  or^c 
of  the  first  settlers;  Nancy  Jane,  now  seventy-eight  years  of  age,  the  wife 
of  Marcus  M.  N.  B.  Killam,  a  wealthv  resident  of  Pike  countv,  who  has 


6oo  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

won  fame  as  a  bear  and  deer  liunter;  Frederick,  who  died  in  childhoot!; 
Isaac  K.,  who  died  in  1898,  on  the  family  homestead  in  Pike  county:  Har- 
vey K.,  a  retired  business  man  hving  in  Camden;  and  Vohiey  G.,  wlio  is  the 
youngest    of   the   family. 

Volney  G.  Bennett  remained  on  the  homestead  until  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  literally  "growing  up"  a  lumberman  and  learning  all  the  details  of 
the  business  from  the  beginning.  In  his  twenty-third  year  he  obtained 
employment  of  a  lumber  firm  in  Camden,  and  in  June,  1876,  he  estab- 
lished a  business  of  his  own,  locating  at  the  corner  of  Second  and  Cherry 
.streets,  Camden,  his  pre.sent  stand.  The  firm  is  known  as  the  Volney  G. 
Bennett  Lumber  Company.  In  addition  to  his  experience  in  the  various 
departments  of  the  lumber  industry,  Mr.  Bennett  is  gifted  with  much  nat- 
ural business  ability,  and  has  been  very  successful.  He  is  the  president  of 
the  Camden  Board  of  Trade  and  of  the  Excelsior  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation: was  the  treasurer  of  two  other  building  and  loan  associations  for 
eighteen  years;  and  he  was  one  of  the  originators,  and  is  now  a  director,  of 
the  Real-Estate  and  Investment  Company  of  Camden. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  married  in  1864  to  Emmeline,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
Thomas  Davis,  a  seafaring  man.  Five  children  have  come  of  the  union, 
namely:  Killam  E.,  now  a  wholesale  lumber  dealer  residing  in  Camden: 
Emily  J.,  the  wife  of  D.  L.  Moore,  formerly  of  Camden;  Volney,  the  vice- 
president  of  the  Volney  G.  Bennett  Lumber  Company;  Alfred  K.,  the  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  same  company;  and  Olive  Edna,  who  is  still  in  the 
home  nest.  Mr.  Bennett  votes  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  takes  no  active 
part  in  politics  and  has  no  desire  for  public  office.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  church. 


ROBERT  L.  BARBER. 


Robert  L.  Barber,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  now 
serving  his  second  term  as  the  clerk  of  Camden  countv.  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Bridgeton.  this  state.  March  31,  1849,  the  son  of  Robert  and  Emily 
(James)  Barber,  both  parents  natives  of  Bridgeton.  He  springs  from  two 
old  New  Jersey  families.  Robert  Barber  was  engaged  for  a  number  of 
3-ears  in  manufacturing  in  his  native  city,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 
His  wife  makes  her  home  with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Barber  has  but  one  other 
child,  viz.,  Harriet,  the  wife  of  Judge  Frank  H.  Burdsall,  of  Camden. 

Robert  L.  Barber  receix'cd  a  puliHc-school  education  in  Bridgeton  and 
in  Camden.     He  has  lived  in  this  city  since  1857,  nearly  forty  years,  and 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  6oi 

for  a  long  time  has  been  closely  identified  with  municipal  affairs,  giving 
much  of  his  time  and  attention  thereto.  Actively  interested  in  politics,  he 
is  one  of  the  influential  Republicans  of  the  place,  and  has  worthily  filled 
a  number  of  offices  of  public  trust.  He  had  been  three  times  elected  to 
the  city  council,  representing  Ward  3,  and  was  a  city  councilman  at  the 
time  of  his  first  election  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  in  1890.  He  dis- 
charged his  duties  in  so  satisfactory  a  manner  that  he  was  honored  with  a 
re-election  in  1895. 

Mr.  Barber  takes  a  prominent  part  and  has  held  important  of^ces  in 
various  fraternal  organizations.  He  is  a  member  of  Camden  Lodge,  No. 
15,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Siloam  Chapter,  No.  7;  Senior  Commander  of  Van 
Hook  Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters;  and  Lulu  Temple  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine. 


DAVID  BAIRD. 


David  Baird,  who  conducts  an  extensive  lumber  business  at  the  corner 
of  Pearl  and  Front  streets,  Camden,  was  born  April  7,  1839,  in  county 
Derry,  Ireland,  a  son  of  James  and  Ann  (Robinson)  Baird.  James  Baird, 
Sr.,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  had  five  children.  Of  these,  James 
Baird,  Jr.,  the  father  of  David,  carried  on  the  business  of  a  road  cantractor, 
and  died  in  1858,  aged  forty-five  years.  His  wife,  a  daughter  of  David 
Robinson,  of  county  Derry,  had  eight  children  of  whom  six  are  living.  She 
died  aged  forty  years.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

David  Baird,  the  eldest  child,  spent  his  boyhood  in  his  native  land.  On 
coming  to  America  he  worked  for  a  time  on  a  farm;  then,  in  1859,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Gillingham  &  Garrison,  lumber  dealers  of  Phila- 
delphia, with  whom  he  remained  until  1872;  and  on  leaving  them  he  started 
in  business  for  himself,  and  has  since  been  very  successful.  He  is  largely 
engaged  in  buying  and  selling  limiber,  making  extensive  purchases  in 
Pennsylvania  and  the  south,  also  in  the  north  and  west.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  occupied  in  clearing  a  large  tract  of  timber  land  in  Alabama,  us- 
ing twenty  miles  of  railroad  to  bring  the  lumber  to  the  sawmill  in  Mobile, 
and  employing  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  nien.  He  makes  a  trip  to 
Alabama  once  a  month.  His  yard  in  Camden,  with  a  frontage  of  two  hun- 
dred feet  and  a  depth  of  twelve  hundred  feet,  and  designed  for  the  storage 
of  large  timber,  spars,  etc.,  was  established  in  1872.  Some  of  the  timber 
brought  from  the  Pacific  coast  in  large  vessels  is  one  hundred  and  ten  feet 
in  length  and  three  feet  in  diameter.     More  of  it  comes  from  Nova  Scotia, 


602  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

pine  and  oak  from  Michitjan  and  the  states  bordering  on  the  Great  Lakes 
and  Canada,  and  hackmatack  from  Bangor,  Maine.  ^Ir.  Baird  has  con- 
ducted some  of  the  largest  hnnber  camps  in  the  western  states,  western 
Virginia,  northwest  Pennsylvania,  and  Lewis  county,  New  York.,  He  has 
been  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  since  1888.  is  the  treasurer  of 
the  Camden  Lighting  &  Heating  Company  and  the  Atlantic  Electric  Light 
Company,  and  he  is  a  director  in  the  Gloucester  &  Woodbury  Railroad 
Company. 

On  Januarv'  23,  1868,  Mr.  Baird  married  Miss  Christiana  Beatty,  a 
daughter  of  William  Beatty,  of  Philadelphia.  They  have  had  six  children, 
of  whom  four  are  living,  namely :  Mary,  the  widow  of  AVilliam  F.  Pea- 
cock; Irving  C;  Christiana;  and  David  Baird,  Jr. 

Mr.  Baird's  political  principles  are  Republican  and  he  is  very  prominent 
in  public  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  state  committee,  and 
he  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  that  nominated  President 
Hamson.  He  was  on  the  board  of  chosen  freeholders  for  four  years.  In 
1887  he  was  elected  sheriff  to  serve  three  years,  and  was  again  elected  in 
1896  to  serve  until  1899.  In  1895  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  state 
board  of  assessors  for  four  years. 


EDWARD  A.  ARMSTRONG. 

Edward  A.  Armstrong,  the  judge  of  the  county  courts  of  Camden 
county  and  a  former  speaker  of  the  house  of  assembly  for  two  terms,  was 
born  December  28,  1858,  in  Woodstown,  Salem  county,  a  son  of  Francis 
W.  and  Rebecca  B.  (Jess)  Armstrong. 

Edward  A.  Armstrong  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Woodstown.  He  pursued  the  study  of  law  under  Benjamin 
D.  Shreve,  Esq.,  of  Camden,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  February 
term  of  1880.  In  due  time  he  opened  an  office  in  Camden,  at  100  Market 
street,  moving  to  his  present  quarters  in  the  New  Jersey  Trust  Building, 
on  Third  and  Market  streets,  as  soon  as  the  erection  of  that  handsome 
building  was  finished.  In  1888  Mr.  Armstrong  was  appointed  the  judge 
of  the  district  court  of  the  city  of  Camden,  succeeding  Judge  R.  T.  Miller, 
and  was  on  the  bench  until  1891,  when  he  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Judge 
Carrow.  He  was  recently  appointed  the  president  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  for  the  term  of  five  years,  beginning  April  i,  1897.  In 
politics  he  favors  the  Republican  party.  He  was  the  president  of  the  board 
of  public  works  from  1891  to  1893;  he  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  different 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  603 

county  conventions;  and  he  was  in  the  state  legislature  from  1884  to  1887 
inclusive,  presiding  as  the  speaker  of  the  house  in  the  year  1885-86.  Judge 
Armstrong  attends  religious  worship  at  the  Baptist  church. 


MAHLON  F.  IVINS. 


No  country  in  the  world  offers  greater  encouragement  to  the  poor  boy 
Avho  is  ambitious  for  fame  and  fortune  than  our  United  States;  and  though 
it  is  claimed  that  we  are  degenerating — that  we  have  a  moneyed  aristocracy 
— the  men  who  have  established  that  aristocracy,  men  like  the  old  Vander- 
bilts  and  Astors,  won.  by  their  indomitable  courage,  their  perseverance 
in  the  face  of  all  difficulties,  and  their  powers  of  accomplishment,  the  ad- 
miration of  the  world.  The  self-made  man  always  commands  respect,  and 
his  prosperity  is  the  just  reward  of  assiduous  efifort. 

Mahlon  F.  Ivins,  the  collector  of  Camden  county.  New  Jersey,  is  a  strik- 
ing example  of  a  self-made  man.  He  was  born  in  Haddonfield,  this  county, 
January  16,  1843,  a  son  of  Benjamin  W.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Fowler)  Ivins. 
Benjamin  W.  Ivins,  who  was  a  native  of  Camden  county,  was  a  miller  by 
trade.  He  lived  to  be  seventy-four  years  of  age.  His  wife,  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  leaving  four  young  children 
• — Mahlon  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lydia,  now  the  wife  of  William 
C.  King,  of  Camden ;  Marj-  Emma,  the  widow  of  Job  R.  King,  of  the  same 
city:  and  James  F.,  a  house-painter  of  Camden. 

Mahlon  F.  Ivins  was  eight  years  of  age  when  deprived  of  a  mother's 
fostering  care,  and  was  bound  out  as  a  farmer's  boy  by  his  father.  It  has 
been  remarked  that  a  woman  deprived  of  her  husband  seems  to  be  given 
supernatural  strength  to  care  for  her  children  and  keep  them  together,  but 
nothing  is  more  helpless  than  a  man  left  with  motherless  young  children 
to  provide  for.  As  a  farmer's  boy  the  child  was  sure  of  food  and  shelter, 
and  the  care,  often  kindly,  of  the  farmer's  wife.  He  worked  for  different 
farmers,  peceiving  his  board  and  clothing  as  a  remuneration  until  sixteen 
years  of  age;  and  v^'hen  the  weather  was  too  inclement  to  work  in  the  field 
he  attended  school,  the  whole  time  of  his  schooling  not  exceeding  one  year. 
But  he  was  naturally  of  a  studious  turn  of  mind;  and  when,  later  in  life,  he 
had  the  time  to  spare,  he  read  and  learned  a  great  deal.  When  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  went  to  Philadelphia  to  learn  the  trade  of  house- 
painting,  remaining  three  years. 

At  the  earlv  age  of  nineteen  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Sixth  New  Jer- 
sey   Volunteers,    under    Captain    George    E.    Wilson    of    Camden.       His 


6o4  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 

regiment  camped  for  some  time  on  the  lower  Potomac,  and  he  was  then 
commissioned  to  enter  the  signal  service  at  Washington.  After  drilling 
some  three  months  he  passed  the  requisite  examination,  and  within  a  month 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  His  first  assignment  as  a  member 
of  the  .signal  corps  was  in  McClellan's  command,  and  the  first  engagement 
in  which  he  took  part  was  the  battle  of  Williamsburg.  He  was  afterwards 
with  Bumside  at  Fredericksburg,  and  he  advanced  \vith  the  re-enforce- 
ments for  Grant  to  Vicksburg.  At  the  battle  of  Resaca,  while  he  was  rid- 
ing across  the  battefield,  his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  broke  his 
ankle.  This  was  the  most  serious  injur}^  he  received,  although  his  term  of 
service  extended  over  three  years,  and  he  participated  in  some  of  the  hottest 
battles  fought.  The  fracture  necessitated  a  short  stay  in  the  hospital. 
Sergeant  Ivins  was  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  when  General  Bumside's  com- 
mand, in  imminent  danger  of  star\'ation,  was  besieged  by  General  Long- 
street,  and  took  part  in  the  desperate  charge  that  broke  the  Confederate 
ranks. 

He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  after  some  three  years 
of  campaigning,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Philadelphia  for 
about  a  year.  But  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  results;  and,  selling  his 
business,  he  went  to  work  at  his  trade,  which  he  followed  in  Philadelphia 
some  seven  years.  He  then  opened  an  establishment  at  329  Federal  street, 
Camden;  and,  having  won  a  reputation  for  tasteful  and  reliable  work,  he 
commands  an  immense  business  in  house  and  sign  painting.  He  does  a 
great  deal  of  work  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  As  a  financier 
he  had  evinced  such  foresight  and  good  judgment  that  his  name  alone  is 
sufificient  guarantee  of  the  success  of  an  enterprise.  He  is  at  present  a 
director  of  the  Central  Trust  Bank  and  in  six  building  and  loan  associations 
of  Camden. 

His  first  wife,  formerly  Miss  Anna  M.  L.  A\"illiams.  of  Camden,  died 
January  13,  1891,  leaving  three  children — Mary  Emma,  the  wife  of  George 
W.  Mathis,  of  Camden;  Lillie  May,  the  wife  of  Christopher  S.  Hand,  of  the 
same  city;  and  Mahlon  F.,  a  student  in  the  military-  academy  at-  Borden- 
town.  New  Jersey.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  On  January  18,  1892,  ]\Ir. 
Ivins  married  Miss  Cornelia  C.  W.  Lewis,  of  Camden. 

Mr.  Ivins  has  long  been  active  in  politics,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
esteemed  members  of  the  Republican  party  in  the  city.  He  has  been  the 
treasurer  of  the  municipal  board  of  health  a  great  many  years;  was  council- 
man from  \\'ard  4  two  terms,  refusing  at  the  end  of  that  time  to  serve  any 
longer,  and  presided  as  the  chairman  of  the  water  committee,  the  street 
committee,  and  tlie  public  property  committee..     For  the  past  twenty  years 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICT   OF  NEW  JERSEY.  605 

his  party  has  been  anxious  to  place  him  in  office  as  sheriff,  but  he  invariably 
refuses  the  nomination,  having  no  desire  to  serve  in  that  capacity.  In 
October,  1894,  he  was  elected  county  treasurer  by  the  board  of  chosen  free- 
holders, to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  the  last  incumbent;  and  at  the  annual 
meeting  in  1895  he  was  re-elected  for  a  term  of  three  years. 

He  is  a  member  of  Camden  Lodge,  No.  15,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  New 
Jersey  Lodge,  No.  i,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Camden,  of 
which  he  has  been  the  treasurer  for  nineteen  years,  working  actively  in  the 
interest  of  the  lodge;  and  he  also  belongs  toi  Wyoming  Tribe,  No.  15,  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  church 
and  contributes  liberally  toward  its  support.  With  all  his  achievements, 
jMr.  Ivins  has  disarmed  envy  and  made  many  friends,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  most  popular  as  well  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  city. 


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